Intrapreneurship : training and benefits of innovation

Do you have an idea or an innovation to conceptualise ? Corporate innovation is an innovative approach that is gradually making its way into the corporate world. In a professional environment, intrapreneurship encourage employees to act and create like entrepreneurs. Discover, with the IPAG Online business school, this new and highly useful concept, both for the employee and the company.

What is intrapreneurship?

The notion of intrapreneurship was defined in 1976 by the American Gifford Pinchot: a group of individuals from the same company will create a new one. This new company can be an integral part of the company or independent. Intrapreneurship is then a set of steps that pushes the individual to develop and realise his or her ideas within the company. The objective is that the initiative of this innovative project serves the company's vision by opening up new opportunities, which it would not have identified without this innovation process.

Unlike the entrepreneur, the intrapreneur will carry out innovation projects within an existing organisation that provides the resources necessary for its creation. The entrepreneur is the owner of his or her business creation, whereas the intrapreneur puts his or her ideas to work within a company that does not belong to him or her.

What is the purpose of intrapreneurship?

Today, many start-ups and large innovative companies are embarking on intrapreneurship for various reasons. By unleashing the creative potential of its employees and giving free rein to innovation, the company has the opportunity to identify new ideas, bring a new mindset to the organisation and discover new sources of growth. With an in-house creation process, employees keep their jobs and status, which becomes a virtually free source of innovation for the company.

By encouraging project leaders within its company, it participates in the recognition of potential innovative talents, promotes collective intelligence, but also the general well-being of its employees. With the implementation of processes designed for intrapreneurship (such as an open lab), employees will be able to flourish in the creation of new projects and will remain motivated. It is also an effective way for the company to retain its most innovative elements and avoid a talent drain.

The implementation of such an approach changes the corporate culture, which can sometimes be difficult. However, opening up to intrapreneurship facilitates the management of change thanks to the new paths and creativity it allows.

From the employee's point of view, the intrapreneurial approach makes it possible to feel recognised, valued and rewarded in the company's innovation strategy. This recognition offers the employee new prospects for evolution, the development of new skills, beyond his or her function, which he or she might never have been able to acquire. It is also an opportunity for the employee to draw on the various resources that his or her company makes available to bring the idea to fruition.

Intrapreneurship: the advantages and disadvantages

The implementation of entrepreneurial initiatives is usually a source of efficiency and increased profit for the company:

• Offering the opportunity to create innovative projects helps to develop the company's strategy and to enter new markets.
• A new corporate culture based on an entrepreneurial ecosystem attracts new talent.
• Empowered and responsible employees are more involved in the company.
• The employee has access to the company's expertise and resources and benefits from its reputation to make his project a reality.
• A source of continuous innovation to ensure more agility and competitiveness for the company in the market.

Although this practice seems advantageous at first sight, it also has some disadvantages:

• A lack of support, limited funding or resources can be demotivating for intrapreneurs.
• Ownership of the idea and the project is part of the overall company strategy, which in the long run can lead to a lack of personal investment by the employee. All the gains, but also the failures, brought about by the project will accrue to the company.
• The transformation of ideas into successful innovations can sometimes be disappointing.

How to encourage and implement intrapreneurship within a company?

Setting up an innovation programme in a company involves anticipation, preparation, and supervision. Upstream of this process, it is essential to define the procedures for intrapreneurship projects (call for projects, recruitment of intrapreneurs, validation of projects, follow-up, etc.).

For the successful implementation of intrapreneurship, continuous steering is necessary. It is not a question of leaving employees to their own devices. Within the company, the employer gives employees the opportunity to take ownership of creative projects, encourages collaboration, while making risk-taking acceptable.

How to train in intrapreneurship?

The IPAG business school offers an online training course to get into intrapreneurship: the MSc digital entrepreneur & project management. This diploma allows you to acquire all the necessary skills to create a company and to successfully manage an intrapreneurship project.

Do you have innovative ideas, but lack the knowledge to carry out your project? IPAG Online is a training offer that is 100% accessible online. Here are our tips for successful distance learning.