Transcript Intrapreneurs: a role for graduates

Intrapreneurship: a role for
graduates
Pauline Kneale
[email protected]
Intrapreneurs
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So what are they? What are your ideas?
How do they differ from entrepreneurs?
Mini exercise: brainstorm your ideas of
an entrepreneur with the person next to
you.
You have 90 seconds
Entrepreneur
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A dynamic person who gets the right people
together to make something happen.
Someone who knows the right people, can
motivate and wants action / results today.
Characteristics: creative, innovative,
enthusiastic, driven, energetic, high need to
achieve, prepared to look outside the box, take
and manage risk, good networkers, exploit their
opportunities,
Intrapreneurs
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So what are they?
How do they differ from entrepreneurs?
in-tra-pre-neur (InÕtre-pre-nur) n. A person within a
large corporation who takes direct responsibility for
turning an idea into a profitable finished product
through assertive risk-taking and innovation
intra(corporate) + (ENTRE)PRENEUR.] -inftrapre-nourial adj. -intra-pre-neuri-al-ism n. -in'trapre-neuri-al-ly
adv. (The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd Edn.,
1992)
Intrapreneur is the name given to employees
who come up with their own ideas and then
bring those ideas to life with the assistance
and resources offered by their employers.
Intrapreneurs can be found in service
industries, creating innovations that draw
customers away from the competition.
Intrapreneurs are found in charities, voluntary
activities and social groups. They work within
systems to develop activities, products and
ideas.
The role of environment or culture
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Post-It notes
The park ranger
The drawing office
Toshiba lap tops
Japanese culture
The good and bad of intrapreneurial culture
(from Reitz, 1998, Figure 1)
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Pivotal Traits
Lawfulness and
integrity
Entrepreneurship
and risk taking
Humility
Respect for others
Intellectual
honesty
Commitment to
create and produce
Flexibility
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Behavioural norms
Seeking economic profits
Using and expending one’s
comparative advantage
Focusing on customers,
internal and external
Participating in and
facilitating the free flow of
information
Setting high self expectations
Accepting disequilibrium and
seeking growth and change
Teamwork
The good and bad of intrapreneurial culture
(from Reitz, 1998, Figure 1)
Antithetical traits
 Untrustworthiness
and unreliability
 Risk aversion
 Arrogance
 Intolerance or
abuse of others
 Lying to oneself or
others
 Being lazy, just
putting in time
 Rigidity
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Behavioural taboos
Seeking political profits
Staying put, not seeking
better opportunities
Focusing on self
Hoarding information;
being unresponsive to
requests
Resignation or complacency
Protecting the status quo;
resisting change
Refusing to cooperate
Businesses need intrapreneurs
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Intrapreneurs are the powerhouses within
companies that create new businesses, that
keep a company or organisation moving
forwards, they motivate colleagues and keep
profits up.
Intrapreneurial employees are energetic,
enthusiastic, imaginative and inventive. They
have ideas for creating new products or services
often working on them in their own time. They
can see how savings can be made. How
processes can be improved.
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So how do you encourage people to come
forwards with their ideas? If you don't, they may
move on to another company, or they may start
their own business and become one of your
competitors.
Mini – exercise What would encourage an
employee to be intrapreneurial? Take 3
minutes in groups of 4 to brainstorm ideas. It
might help to think about where you were last
employed, what would have encouraged you to
make suggestions? Remember no idea can be
too wacky. Get a list together – 10 points is
good, 20 points is very good
Motivation and Reward
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Financial? Not always the key. For
intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs it is
normally a bonus not a driver. Much
motivation come from ‘doing the job more
efficiently/safely’ or ‘my way’ or
But bosses need persuading to take on
new ideas
Win – Win situation.
Changing running taps in chemical factories,
print works or laundries to shower heads can
cover installation costs in months and save
thousands in water charges. So the employer
wins (and so does the environment).
DuPont – tracking blood in 90 days
Why might new graduates choose to be
intrapreneurial at work?
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Ideas please?
What would motivate you to be intrapreneurial in
the place you work in vacations / term time?
Ideas please?
Barriers
Motivations
What would motivate you to be
intrapreneurial in the place you
work in vacations / term time?
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Barriers
Motivations
The management hierarchy are not necessarily
against you.
A manager that champions an idea that comes
from a junior employee is showing that s/he is
a good manager.
Tactics to help a junior intrapreneur to
succeed. (Pinochet and Pelman 1999)
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Test ideas casually with friends who can point out
basic flaws and ask challenging questions.
Keep ideas from natural enemies as long as
possible to avoid opposition.
Promote ideas modestly and constructively.
Test casually on potential customers to check the
project is realisable and profitable.
Accept suggestions gratefully.
Always look to network the idea so it can be
thought about from many aspects.
Don’t give up at the first sign of disappointment.
Your action plan following this
lecture is …
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Reflect on your own and colleagues behaviours
and approaches. How might you be more
proactive in work and non-work situations?
What does this mean for you?
Follow up at least two of the articles / web sites
mentioned today. Increase your knowledge and
examples.