Polis University as Lean Startup Innovation

Peter Nientied

doi:10.5539/ibr.v8n5p19

Abstract

This article studies the rapid development of a new university in Tirana, Albania, from the perspective of lean startup innovation. This is an unusual perspective because the lean startup approach is widely used for new ventures in the technology sector. The claim of principal authors of Lean Startup however is that the lean startup principles have much wider applicability than the tech sector. Based on the case study of a newly established university, it is concluded that this claim holds: the lean startup approach proves to be meaningful and relevant for understanding the rapid development of this university, and likely for other types of new business development as well.

Highlights

The lean startup concept was introduced by entrepreneur Eric Ries
Ries (2011) and Blank (2013a) do not limit the lean startup approach to tech ventures. They suggest that the lean startup approach has a much wider application
In the analysis of Polis University below, first a comparison is made of the business contexts of a lean startup reference venture and Polis University in Albania

Summary

Introduction

In 2011 his bookThe lean startup, How today’s entrepreneurs use continuous innovation to create radically successful businesses was published, and attracted much attention, from both business and academic circles. It was a starting point for a kind of entrepreneurial and social movement (Note 1). The rationale behind the lean start-up approach is to optimize the utilization of scarce resources by using smaller and faster iterations for testing a vision continuously so as to get a desired product to customers' hands faster. Lean start-ups strive to minimize the expenditure of resources for anything but the creation of value for the customer.‖

Methods

Results

Conclusion