Becoming a Bona Fide Intrapreneur: A Step-by-Step Guide for Success in Large Organizations

By Federico J. Quijada

Intrapreneurship has become a crucial driver of innovation and growth within large companies. This blog post will provide a comprehensive guide on how to become a successful intrapreneur, leveraging your entrepreneurial spirit within the structure of an established organization.

Understanding Intrapreneurship

Intrapreneurship is the practice of entrepreneurship within an existing organization. It involves employees taking initiative to develop new products, services, or processes that benefit the company. Intrapreneurs are often described as "dreamers who do" – individuals who take hands-on responsibility for creating innovation within a business (Pinchot & Pinchot, 1978).

Steps to Becoming a Successful Intrapreneur

1. Cultivate an Entrepreneurial Mindset

To succeed as an intrapreneur, you must first adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. This involves:

• Embracing creativity and innovation

• Taking calculated risks

• Being proactive and self-motivated

• Continuously seeking opportunities for improvement

Research has shown that individuals with an entrepreneurial orientation are more likely to engage in intrapreneurial behavior and contribute to organizational success (Antoncic & Hisrich, 2003).

2. Develop a Deep Understanding of Your Organization

Successful intrapreneurs have a thorough understanding of their company's:

• Mission and vision

• Organizational structure

• Core competencies

• Market position

• Challenges and opportunities

This knowledge allows you to identify areas where innovation can have the most significant impact (Kuratko et al., 2005).

3. Build a Strong Network

Networking is crucial for intrapreneurs. Foster relationships with:

• Colleagues across different departments

• Senior management

• External partners and stakeholders

A robust network can provide support, resources, and opportunities for collaboration (Pinchot & Pellman, 1999).

4. Identify and Validate Opportunities

To be an effective intrapreneur:

• Stay attuned to market trends and customer needs

• Analyze internal processes for inefficiencies

• Conduct thorough research to validate your ideas

• Use data-driven approaches to support your proposals

Rigorous opportunity identification and validation increase the likelihood of success for intrapreneurial initiatives (Kuratko et al., 2011).

5. Develop a Compelling Business Case

When presenting your ideas:

• Clearly articulate the value proposition

• Provide detailed financial projections

• Outline potential risks and mitigation strategies

• Demonstrate alignment with company goals

A well-crafted business case is essential for gaining support from decision-makers (Hornsby et al., 2002).

6. Secure Resources and Support

Successful intrapreneurs are adept at:

• Identifying and acquiring necessary resources

• Garnering support from key stakeholders

• Navigating organizational politics

• Building cross-functional teams

Research indicates that organizational support is a critical factor in the success of intrapreneurial projects (Kuratko et al., 2014).

7. Execute and Iterate

Once you've secured support:

• Implement your project with a sense of urgency

• Regularly measure and communicate progress

• Be prepared to pivot based on feedback and results

• Celebrate small wins to maintain momentum

Agile execution and continuous improvement are hallmarks of successful intrapreneurs (Rigtering & Weitzel, 2013).

8. Learn from Failures and Persist

Intrapreneurship involves risk, and not all initiatives will succeed. Successful intrapreneurs:

• View failures as learning opportunities

• Maintain resilience in the face of setbacks

• Apply lessons learned to future projects

• Persist in their pursuit of innovation

  
  

Studies have shown that a culture that tolerates failure and encourages learning is conducive to intrapreneurial success (Alpkan et al., 2010).

Conclusion

Becoming a bona fide intrapreneur requires a combination of entrepreneurial spirit, organizational savvy, and persistent execution. By following these steps and continuously honing your skills, you can drive innovation and create value within your organization. Remember, successful intrapreneurship is not just about individual achievement – it's about fostering a culture of innovation that benefits the entire company.

References

Alpkan, L., Bulut, C., Gunday, G., Ulusoy, G., & Kilic, K. (2010). Organizational support for intrapreneurship and its interaction with human capital to enhance innovative performance. Management Decision, 48(5), 732-755.

Antoncic, B., & Hisrich, R. D. (2003). Clarifying the intrapreneurship concept. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 10(1), 7-24.

Hornsby, J. S., Kuratko, D. F., & Zahra, S. A. (2002). Middle managers' perception of the internal environment for corporate entrepreneurship: Assessing a measurement scale. Journal of Business Venturing, 17(3), 253-273.

Kuratko, D. F., Covin, J. G., & Hornsby, J. S. (2014). Why implementing corporate innovation is so difficult. Business Horizons, 57(5), 647-655.

Kuratko, D. F., Ireland, R. D., Covin, J. G., & Hornsby, J. S. (2005). A model of middle-level managers' entrepreneurial behavior. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29(6), 699-716.

Kuratko, D. F., Hornsby, J. S., & Covin, J. G. (2011). Diagnosing a firm's internal environment for corporate entrepreneurship. Business Horizons, 54(4), 365-373.

Pinchot, G., & Pellman, R. (1999). Intrapreneuring in action: A handbook for business innovation. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Pinchot, G., & Pinchot, E. (1978). Intra-corporate entrepreneurship. Tarrytown School for Entrepreneurs.

Rigtering, J. P. C., & Weitzel, U. (2013). Work context and employee behaviour as antecedents for intrapreneurship. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 9(3), 337-360.