The Goal Of An Intrapreneur Is To

The heart of innovation within established companies lies in the hands of intrapreneurs, internal dynamos who blend entrepreneurial spirit with corporate resources to drive growth and create new value. Their mission extends beyond mere profit; it encompasses a multifaceted set of objectives that benefit the company, its employees, and even the wider market.

Defining the Intrapreneur's Ambition

An intrapreneur isn't simply an employee following orders. They are change agents who identify opportunities, champion innovative ideas, and navigate the complexities of a corporate environment to bring those ideas to fruition. Their primary goal can be broken down into several key areas:

• Driving Innovation: At the core of the intrapreneur's role is the relentless pursuit of innovation. This means identifying unmet needs, exploring emerging technologies, and developing creative solutions that differentiate the company from its competitors.
• Creating New Value: Intrapreneurs strive to create new revenue streams, improve existing products or services, or develop entirely new business models. This value creation can manifest in increased market share, enhanced customer satisfaction, or improved operational efficiency.
• Fostering a Culture of Innovation: Intrapreneurs act as catalysts for change, inspiring their colleagues to embrace new ideas, take calculated risks, and challenge the status quo. They help to cultivate a more innovative and agile organizational culture.

A Deeper Dive into Intrapreneurial Objectives

To fully grasp the scope of an intrapreneur's ambition, let's explore each of these goals in greater detail:

1. Driving Innovation: The Engine of Progress

Innovation is the lifeblood of any successful company, especially in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. Intrapreneurs are tasked with finding and developing innovative solutions that can help the company stay ahead of the curve. This involves:

• Identifying Opportunities: Intrapreneurs are constantly scanning the environment for emerging trends, unmet needs, and potential disruptions. They leverage their knowledge of the market, customer insights, and technological advancements to identify opportunities that the company can capitalize on.
• Generating Ideas: Once an opportunity has been identified, intrapreneurs brainstorm and develop creative solutions. They challenge conventional thinking, explore unconventional approaches, and encourage their colleagues to contribute their own ideas.
• Developing Prototypes and MVPs: Intrapreneurs don't just stop at ideas. They take the initiative to develop prototypes and minimum viable products (MVPs) to test their concepts and gather feedback. This allows them to iterate quickly and refine their solutions based on real-world data.
• Championing New Technologies: Intrapreneurs are often early adopters of new technologies, and they play a crucial role in introducing these technologies to the company. They experiment with new tools, assess their potential benefits, and advocate for their adoption.

2. Creating New Value: The Measure of Success

Innovation is only valuable if it translates into tangible results. Intrapreneurs are accountable for creating new value for the company, whether it's through increased revenue, improved efficiency, or enhanced customer satisfaction. This involves:

• Developing New Products and Services: Intrapreneurs often lead the development of new products and services that address unmet customer needs or create entirely new markets. They work closely with cross-functional teams to bring these offerings to market and ensure their success.
• Improving Existing Offerings: Intrapreneurs also focus on improving existing products and services to enhance their value proposition. This can involve adding new features, streamlining processes, or reducing costs.
• Optimizing Processes and Operations: Intrapreneurs look for ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the company's operations. They identify bottlenecks, streamline workflows, and implement new technologies to optimize processes and reduce waste.
• Creating New Business Models: In some cases, intrapreneurs may even develop entirely new business models that disrupt the industry and create significant value for the company. This can involve exploring new revenue streams, targeting new customer segments, or leveraging new technologies.

3. Fostering a Culture of Innovation: The Foundation for Growth

Intrapreneurs are not just individual contributors; they are also culture builders. They understand that innovation thrives in an environment where employees feel empowered to take risks, experiment with new ideas, and challenge the status quo. This involves:

• Encouraging Experimentation: Intrapreneurs create a safe space for experimentation, where employees are not afraid to fail. They encourage their colleagues to try new things, learn from their mistakes, and iterate quickly.
• Promoting Collaboration: Intrapreneurs foster collaboration across departments and teams, breaking down silos and encouraging the sharing of ideas and knowledge. They understand that the best ideas often come from diverse perspectives.
• Empowering Employees: Intrapreneurs empower their colleagues to take ownership of their work and make decisions. They provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed, and they recognize and reward their contributions.
• Challenging the Status Quo: Intrapreneurs are not afraid to challenge conventional thinking and question established practices. They encourage their colleagues to think critically and look for ways to improve the way things are done.

The Intrapreneurial Skillset: A Blend of Talents

To achieve these ambitious goals, intrapreneurs need a unique blend of skills and traits:

• Vision: The ability to see opportunities where others don't and to articulate a compelling vision for the future.
• Creativity: The capacity to generate new ideas and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Passion: A deep commitment to their ideas and a relentless drive to bring them to fruition.
• Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks and persevere in the face of challenges.
• Communication: The skill to effectively communicate their ideas to others and to build consensus around their vision.
• Leadership: The ability to inspire and motivate others to join their cause and work towards a common goal.
• Business Acumen: A strong understanding of business principles and the ability to assess the potential value of new opportunities.
• Networking: The ability to build relationships with key stakeholders and to leverage their networks to gain support for their initiatives.

Overcoming Challenges: Navigating the Corporate Maze

While intrapreneurship offers tremendous potential, it also presents unique challenges. Intrapreneurs often face resistance from colleagues who are comfortable with the status quo, as well as bureaucratic hurdles and limited resources. To succeed, they must be able to:

• Navigate Corporate Politics: Intrapreneurs must be adept at navigating the complexities of the corporate environment and building relationships with key stakeholders.
• Secure Resources: Intrapreneurs must be resourceful in securing the funding, personnel, and other resources they need to bring their ideas to fruition.
• Manage Risk: Intrapreneurs must be able to assess and manage the risks associated with their initiatives, and to develop strategies to mitigate those risks.
• Build Support: Intrapreneurs must be able to build support for their ideas among their colleagues, managers, and senior executives.
• Demonstrate Value: Intrapreneurs must be able to demonstrate the potential value of their initiatives to the company, and to track and measure their impact.

Examples of Intrapreneurial Success

Many well-known companies have benefited from the contributions of intrapreneurs. Here are a few examples:

• Post-it Notes (3M): Spencer Silver, a 3M scientist, initially developed a "low-tack" adhesive that was considered a failure. However, Art Fry, another 3M employee, saw the potential for the adhesive to be used in bookmarks that wouldn't damage book pages. Together, they developed the Post-it Note, which has become one of 3M's most successful products.
• Skunk Works (Lockheed Martin): During World War II, Lockheed Martin formed a small, secretive team of engineers and designers to develop innovative aircraft. This team, known as Skunk Works, was given the freedom to experiment with new technologies and to challenge conventional thinking. As a result, they developed some of the most advanced aircraft of their time, including the P-80 Shooting Star, the first operational jet fighter in the U.S. Air Force.
• PlayStation (Sony): Ken Kutaragi, a Sony engineer, initially developed the PlayStation as a side project. He saw the potential for Sony to enter the video game market, but his idea was met with resistance from senior executives. However, Kutaragi persisted, and he eventually convinced Sony to invest in his project. The PlayStation became one of the most successful video game consoles of all time.

The Future of Intrapreneurship

As companies face increasing pressure to innovate and adapt to change, the role of the intrapreneur is becoming more important than ever. Companies are increasingly recognizing the value of empowering their employees to think and act like entrepreneurs, and they are creating programs and initiatives to encourage intrapreneurship.

The future of intrapreneurship will likely be shaped by several key trends:

• Increased Focus on Innovation: Companies will continue to prioritize innovation as a key driver of growth and competitiveness.
• Greater Emphasis on Employee Empowerment: Companies will empower their employees to take ownership of their work and to contribute their ideas.
• More Support for Intrapreneurial Initiatives: Companies will provide resources and support for intrapreneurial initiatives, such as funding, mentoring, and training.
• Wider Adoption of Agile Methodologies: Companies will adopt agile methodologies to enable faster iteration and experimentation.
• Greater Use of Technology: Companies will leverage technology to facilitate collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing.

Conclusion: The Intrapreneur as a Catalyst for Growth

The goal of an intrapreneur extends far beyond simply generating profits. They are catalysts for innovation, value creation, and cultural transformation within their organizations. By identifying opportunities, championing new ideas, and fostering a culture of experimentation, intrapreneurs help companies stay ahead of the curve, adapt to change, and create lasting value for their stakeholders. As the business landscape continues to evolve, the role of the intrapreneur will become even more critical for companies seeking to thrive in the 21st century. They are the internal engines of progress, driving growth and innovation from within.