Intrapreneurial Culture Within the IT Department
While entrepreneurs get all the glory for starting up new businesses and bringing innovative ideas to the world, there is another type of intrapreneurship that occurs within established companies. The intrapreneur is an employee with the drive and skill set to launch a project that can potentially transform an entire business unit or company. This is a valuable type of innovation that can be tapped into by encouraging employees to pursue their own ideas within the corporate structure.
Unlike the risk-taking that comes with launching an independent business, IT intrapreneur still need to balance their personal projects with their day-to-day duties. As such, fostering an intrapreneurial culture may be difficult for some companies. However, the benefits of allowing intrapreneurs to create innovative solutions that can improve or disrupt the business are numerous.
Entrepreneurship is a vital component of business growth. Companies that do not adapt to changing market conditions risk failing and being replaced by more agile competitors. The intrapreneurship process enables companies to take risks and make changes within the corporate structure, which can lead to major innovation and improved financial performance.
The Benefits of Fostering an Intrapreneurial Culture Within the IT Department
Intrapreneurs are valuable assets to the IT department because they possess a unique perspective of the entire business. They can spot inefficiencies and introduce unconventional ideas that can benefit the organization, says Francis Li of IT consultancy Softchoice. Intrapreneurs also tend to be more loyal than outside contractors, as they chose to stay and invest in their employer’s future.
There are several ways that IT managers can encourage intrapreneurs, including setting aside time for them to work on their projects, and granting them additional resources. They should also allow them to take on more challenging assignments so they can feel like they have the freedom to think and explore their own ideas. They should offer frequent and open communication channels so that intrapreneurs can feel like they are not alone in their efforts.
For intrapreneurship to succeed, the whole company must support it. As such, all departments should be encouraged to engage with intrapreneurs, particularly IT. This will help the IT department better understand the needs of the wider organization and how to deliver a service that meets those needs.
Some intrapreneurs can run into roadblocks when attempting to bring their ideas to fruition, such as red tape or a lack of resources. As such, implementing programs such as shadowing and reach out campaigns can be beneficial for all parties involved. These types of initiatives are designed to give intrapreneurs the opportunity to immerse themselves in other business units so they can understand how their own innovative solutions will impact the overall operation. The most successful intrapreneurs will be those who are able to work collaboratively and who are not afraid to take risks. In addition, they will be those who can accept that not every idea will be a success and see failure as a learning experience rather than a stigma. This will ultimately lead to a successful implementation of the intrapreneur’s original vision.
