What is Intrapreneur?
1101 reads · Last updated: December 5, 2024
An intrapreneur is an employee who is tasked with developing an innovative idea or project within a company. The intrapreneur may not face the outsized risks or reap the outsized rewards of an entrepreneur; however, the intrapreneur has access to the resources and capabilities of an established company.
Definition
An intrapreneur is an employee within a company who is responsible for developing innovative ideas or projects. Unlike traditional entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs typically do not face significant personal risks or reap substantial financial rewards. However, they can leverage the established resources and capabilities of the company to drive innovation and change.
Origin
The concept of intrapreneurship originated in the 1980s when large companies began to recognize the importance of innovation and encouraged employees to engage in entrepreneurial activities within the organization. Over time, this concept has evolved to become a crucial part of many companies' innovation strategies.
Categories and Features
Intrapreneurs can be categorized into several types, including product innovators, process improvers, and market explorers. Product innovators focus on developing new products or services, process improvers aim to optimize existing business processes, and market explorers seek new market opportunities. A key feature of intrapreneurs is their ability to innovate within the framework of the company, utilizing existing resources and networks.
Case Studies
A classic example is 3M's Post-it Notes. The product was developed by an employee who, with internal support, turned a failed adhesive project into a successful product. Another example is Google's Gmail project, which was initially developed by an engineer during the company's "20% time" initiative and eventually became one of Google's core products.
Common Issues
One common issue intrapreneurs may face is the lack of sufficient autonomy and resources to advance their projects. Additionally, intrapreneurs might encounter resistance from within the company, especially when changes could impact existing business operations. To overcome these challenges, intrapreneurs need strong communication and persuasion skills to gain management support.
