AQA · GCSE · Business
Course version: 8132 · Version from Sept 2017
Outline the characteristics of an entrepreneur, such as hard working,…
Full specification wording
The purpose and nature of businesses: outline the characteristics of an entrepreneur, such as hard working, innovative, organised and willingness to take a risk
Entrepreneurs tend to share certain characteristics that help them start and run a business successfully.
Checked against the AQA 8132 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 12 of 14
- 2 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Entrepreneurs tend to share certain characteristics that help them start and run a business successfully. Being hard working means putting in long hours and persistent effort, especially in the early stages. Being innovative involves generating new ideas or finding better ways to do things, such as developing a unique product or service. Being organised means planning, managing time and resources effectively, and keeping records. A willingness to take a risk means accepting the possibility of failure or financial loss in pursuit of potential rewards. Other characteristics include resilience, leadership and good communication. For example, an entrepreneur who opens a café may work long shifts, introduce a loyalty app, keep tight control of stock and finances, and invest savings despite uncertain demand. These characteristics are not fixed traits; they can be developed.
What earns the marks
- Outlines hard working as putting in sustained effort and long hours to achieve business goals.
- Outlines innovative as generating new ideas or improving products, services or processes.
- Outlines organised as planning, managing time and resources, and keeping accurate records.
- Outlines willingness to take a risk as accepting the possibility of loss or failure to pursue an opportunity.
- May include additional characteristics such as resilience, leadership or good communication.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Listing characteristics without explaining what they mean.
Put it right: Add a brief explanation, such as 'putting in long hours and persistent effort'.
Assuming all entrepreneurs have every characteristic equally.
Put it right: Recognise that characteristics can be developed and may differ between entrepreneurs.
Confusing risk-taking with reckless gambling.
Put it right: Emphasise that risk-taking involves weighing potential rewards against possible losses.
Exam tips
- Use the word 'because' to link each characteristic to its benefit for the business.
- Aim to outline at least three characteristics with a short explanation for each.
- Apply characteristics to a business context if the question provides one, to show understanding.
Try the lesson
The start of the The purpose and nature of businesses: outline the characteristics of an entrepreneur, such as hard working, innovative, organised and willingness to take a risk lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which characteristic describes an entrepreneur who keeps trying to find new ways of doing things?
Listen
Entrepreneurs tend to share certain characteristics that help them start and run a business successfully. Being hard working means putting in long hours and persistent effort, especially in the early stages. Being innovative involves generating new ideas or finding better ways to do things, such as developing a unique product or service. Being organised means planning, managing time and resources effectively, and keeping records. A willingness to take a risk means accepting the possibility of failure or financial loss in pursuit of potential rewards. Other characteristics include resilience, leadership and good communication. For example, an entrepreneur who opens a café may work long shifts, introduce a loyalty app, keep tight control of stock and finances, and invest savings despite uncertain demand. These characteristics are not fixed traits; they can be developed. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Outlines hard working as putting in sustained effort and long hours to achieve business goals. Outlines innovative as generating new ideas or improving products, services or processes. Outlines organised as planning, managing time and resources, and keeping accurate records. Outlines willingness to take a risk as accepting the possibility of loss or failure to pursue an opportunity. A common slip: Listing characteristics without explaining what they mean: for example, stating 'hard working' but not saying what that involves. Instead, add a brief explanation, such as 'putting in long hours and persistent effort'. Exam tip: Use the word 'because' to link each characteristic to its benefit for the business.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Innovation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Organisation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Innovation
- Generating new ideas or finding better ways to do things, such as developing a unique product or service.
- Organisation
- Planning, managing time and resources effectively, and keeping records.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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