Article by Torgeir Aadland and Øystein Widding
This chapter explores how uncertainty is experienced and managed in entrepreneurship education, particularly within venture creation programmes (VCPs). The authors examine how students engage in real venture activities and navigate different types of uncertainty, including external uncertainties related to markets and stakeholders, and internal uncertainties related to team organization and decision-making. Drawing on experiential learning and authentic learning theories, the chapter highlights how action-based education enables students to develop entrepreneurial competencies through direct engagement, reflection, and adaptation. The study is based on analysis of student reports, offering detailed insights into how novice entrepreneurs identify and respond to uncertainty in the early stages of venture creation.
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Use in teaching
The chapter is highly relevant as a teaching resource in entrepreneurship education, especially for programmes that emphasize experiential and practice-based learning. It can be used to illustrate how learning occurs through real-world engagement, where students are confronted with ambiguity and must develop strategies to cope with it. Educators can use this chapter to design assignments that combine planning, action, and reflection, and to better understand how students evolve from focusing on external uncertainties to recognizing internal organizational challenges. The chapter also provides practical insights for improving programme design by emphasizing the importance of structured reflection, team organization, and iterative planning.
Key Points
Students in venture creation programmes learn by actively engaging with real venture projects and experiencing uncertainty firsthand.
External uncertainties are initially dominant, but internal uncertainties become more important as ventures develop.
Students primarily handle uncertainty through information gathering, experimentation, and iterative planning.
Clear team roles and better internal organization are key strategies for managing internal uncertainty.
Combining action, reflection, and real-world engagement enhances entrepreneurial learning outcomes.
Learn More
Aadland, T., & Widding, Ø. (2026). Embracing uncertainty through venture planning. In Reframing Entrepreneurship Education. Edward Elgar Publishing.