Applying Theory U Through SHAPE to Develop Student’s Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation in a University Ecosystem

The focus in the first half of this chapter is a single, brief, but a very powerful moment in an 11-week Theory U-inspired initiative for aspiring young entrepreneurs at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban (UKZN), South Africa. Presencing occurred during Meet Your Business Friend Day, where student entrepreneurs co-initiated, co-sensed, co-inspired, co-created and setting the tone co-evolve with possible Business Friends, in the spark of forming an ecosystem of deep support. Student entrepreneurs interacted during Meet Your Business Friend Day with peers, private sector entrepreneurs, mentors from the local municipality, mentors from the local chamber of commerce and mentors from the provincial Local Economic Development Unit. The aim of bringing them together was to co-initiate a potential future ecosystem for students, through co-sensing and co-inspiring, to enable them to be more entrepreneurial. At the time of the event, such an actual ecosystem of Business Friends and the interrelationships between role players didn’t exist. After this powerful moment, students were requested to write reflections on their experiences building up to this day and during this day. As they’ve been en route through the U-journey, their reflections at this stage were ripe for analysis. Utilising participant’s account in a survey and reflective writing, I will be exploring the thematic relationships between Theory U levels and IEO dimensions.