Instructor Resource
Neck, Entrepreneurship, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Case Notes
Chapter 9: Planning for Entrepreneurs
Elon Musk: CEO & CTO of Tesla Motors, CEO and Chief Designer of SpaceX,
Chairman of Solar City, and co-founder of PayPal
Summary
Elon Musk is perhaps the quintessential large-scale entrepreneur of our time. Prior to becoming
a U.S. Citizen in 2002, Musk was raised in obscurity in South Africa and Canada. After being
educated at the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and earning two
As an entrepreneur, Musk is motivated by more than just money; he deeply wants to change
the world and make it a better, safer place to live. As such, he is unafraid to risk huge amounts
of money in the development of new ideas. Other projects he has set his sights upon involve
solar and other green energy projects. He has also proposed the construction of a “hyperloop,”
Analysis
Elon Musk is an excellent example of an entrepreneur who has carefully developed plans
(noun) to accomplish ambitious entrepreneurial goals. He has also demonstrated what it means
to be continually planning (verb) in order to realize his objectives. Musk has learned to master
the TRIM framework (Team, Resources, Idea, Market) in a balanced manner that gets results.
Instructor Resource
Neck, Entrepreneurship, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Sample Answers to Case Questions
1. Entrepreneurship always involves varying kinds and degrees of risk. What kinds of
feasibility, safety, and capital guidelines do you think should govern the decision-making
processes surrounding entrepreneurial risk taking?
2. Why is it important for science and technology to play a prominent role in future
entrepreneurial efforts around the world?
Sample answer: We live in the age of science, information, and technology. If an
3. What new inventions in science and technology do you believe inventors and
entrepreneurs will create and market in your lifetime?