T E C H N O L O G Y, I N N O V A T I O N A N D
INTRAPRENEURIALISM I
ntrapreneurialism could be described as a behaviour or a state of mind – the ability to work within an established business with an entrepreneurial flair. Intrapreneurs are disruptors, mavericks and trailblazers. They are agile, innovative, and committed to progress. Bringing the intrepreneurial mindset to traditional organizations isn’t easy. Intrapreneurs often have to fight for vital changes. They can only act within the confines of their role and authority, usually having to go through internal approval and decision-making processes. Business cases and budget constraints can be the enemy of the intrapreneur’s passion for change. Intrapreneurs naturally want to innovate, however, some organisations have many people who don’t know how to or are uncomfortable with challenging the status quo. Organizations that are resistant to change will find it harder and harder to compete with innovative businesses. Customer expectations are changing
as they become more accustomed to dealing with businesses that go out of their way to provide the best customer experience. Many businesses operate in silos. Each silo has their own budget, their own targets and they don’t naturally collaborate. Silo thinking uses outdated processes and methodologies, which can get in the way of a seamless customer experience. Often the enabler to innovation and improving the customer experience is technology. This could be from how the customer interacts with the business (such as ordering and support systems) or how well the business runs its internal day to day processes. Technology can support innovation in allowing teams of any size, in any location, to collaborate, capture ideas, create visibility throughout the business and to track progress. Creating a culture of innovation requires commitment from leaders to
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