***Published in Dünya Gazetesi on 12 May 2016
2016 Business trends of Businessnewsdaily.com shows that successful small companies will make collaborations
Intrapreneurship means the development and application of creative and innovative ideas by an entrepreneurial approach by employees in corporate companies. It combines the concept of innovation with applying the innovative ideas.
Intrapreneurship is not a technological development, but rather a change in the way in which it operates, in its cultural forms. There are different stakeholders, customers, suppliers, employees, non-governmental organizations within the organization .Intrapreneurship is the creation of value by stakeholders through creating alternatives in different perspectives. Innovation occurs when cooperation is built around an external and internal ecosystem.
We used to perceive the concept of innovation as only an exceptional product development specific to the R&D departments, or we were limited to taking the suggestions of innovation workers and awarding them. Yet the concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation are now being redefined as developing collective ideas and, of course applying those , bringing all the stakeholders of the company together and promoting communication and commitment cultures.
Which aspects are important for the start-up philosophy entering into corporations?
Today, 70 percent of the company employees is from Y generation. This generation’s vision does not find working in a big cooperation as attractive as the X generation does. They say they will be more motivated in an environment where they will express his ideas freely, take responsibility and make sense to their lives, and many find it more exciting to do their own work or start-up. Start-up philosophy is a very effective tool to change leadership culture and business manner in institutions. Moreover, companies that adopt these cultures are creating a more competitive and productive working environment.
How does intrapreneurship start, sprout, develop?
It is important to create the appropriate environment to initiate innovation. The institution should embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and mind structure. When you create this culture, you change the rule of the game especially in big companies. Certain criteria must be set for the exchange of culture and mind structure: An innovation strategy and objectives are set out in which the company’s foresight targets are written down and shared by all employees and transformed into implementation.
A communication network that creates strong and efficient connections both inside and outside the company is established. A corporate organization structure that supports innovation is established all these steps mean that the company is going to be fundamentally different. But let’s not forget that sometimes such a total change starts with small steps. The creation of environments where ideas are gathered and evaluated will open up the environment in which open communication is supported and rewarded. Successful first steps are important, it refreshes everyone to the innovations, encourages for new breakthroughs.
Which actors lead innovations? Who are these innovators, intrapreneurs? What are the common features?
Departments that lead to innovation from the institution to the institution can change. However, if you are trying to create innovation and entrepreneurship within the institution, it is important to remember that this is going to be a collective mindset. Business Development, HR, IT, Marketing and Corporate Communications teams, starting from senior management in general, are the teams that should work shoulder to shoulder in these projects. Institutions are slowly starting to form innovation units linked to the CEO. Innovation project teams need different backgrounds, competencies and personalities. It is also seen as a big plus for the members of this team, who believe in the common mind, think multi-faceted, look at events in different ways, love to take risks, open to changes, adapt to the uncertainty environment.
What should the manager or boss follow in order to make innovation in his own department or in his own company?
There should be a strategy of innovation, its related objectives of the company and the fact that the entire management team agrees is even more important. After the innovation becomes the institution’s strategic priorities, we need to create entrepreneurial cultures within the company in order to put this strategy into practice. At this point, it is necessary to prepare the space, process and environment that will enable all departments to work in cooperation with human resources, internal communication and corporate communication, business development, strategy, IT and marketing. Even if the process of innovation is to be modeled only on a section basis, culture change is inevitable. Therefore, it is necessary for the manager to provide an environment to support transparency, cooperation and open communication.
What is the role of company’s structure and culture for making innovations? Can an innovation method that fits every corporate culture be developed?
Change is a cycle that never ends in companies. Corporations constantly have to change and defeat themselves. Along with the 4th Industrial Revolution, organizational structure and change in human resources have accelerated much more. Each corporation’s response to innovation and speed of implementation is of course different but what is important; the desire to start and the vision and motivation of the leader at the institution. According to institutional expectations, the speed and scope of innovation practices within the organization are of course adjusted. In general, projects can be initiated on a specific topic and then spread throughout the organization.
At the beginning of June you will host the first Intrapreneurship and Innovation Conference. What will be talked about in this Conference?
This conference will be a platform that will bring together the start-ups, universities and companies who want to make projects in this field. It will take place in ATÖLYE which has become a special place for creating common mind ,. This conference will enable the companies to listen to innovations and entrepreneurship applications. Interesting speaker profiles will focus on intrapreneurship and innovation in the direction of their know-how, expertise and experience.
For more information, you can visit www.kurumicigirisimcilikconference.com.
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