A systems approach to strengthening corporate entrepreneurship actions

Abstract

Corporate entrepreneurial activities need to be aligned extensively with a company’s strategy. This study offers a systems approach to linking a company’s strategy with corporate entrepreneurship through IDEF0 modelling. The IDEF0 model provides the framework from which enabling and controlling mechanisms are derived. The objective of the investigation is to identify areas within the organisational structure of a company (both vertical and horizontal) where the enabling mechanisms of corporate entrepreneurial actions are prevalent and areas where they are lacking. The research also aims to identify areas where the controlling mechanisms of corporate entrepreneurial actions might be lacking or overbearing. The results show that the engineering support department had a higher proclivity for corporate entrepreneurial activities, while the projects department had a lower proclivity for corporate entrepreneurship. The results also show that the higher the position of a person in the company hierarchy, the higher the proclivity for corporate entrepreneurship.

Korporatiewe entrepreneuriese aktiwiteite moet breedvoerig belyn word met 'n maatskappy se strategie. Hierdie studie bied 'n stelselbenadering om 'n maatskappy se strategie met korporatiewe entrepreneurskap te koppel deur IDEF0-modellering. Die IDEF0-model verskaf ‘n raamwerk waaruit bemagtigings- en beheermeganismes afgelei kan word. Die doel van die ondersoek is om areas binne die organisasiestruktuur van 'n maatskappy (beide vertikaal en horisontaal) te identifiseer waar die bemagtigende meganismes van korporatiewe entrepreneursaksies algemeen voorkom, asook areas waar dit ontbreek. Die navorsing het ook ten doel gehad om gebiede te identifiseer waar die beheermeganismes van korporatiewe entrepreneuriese moontlik ontbreek of aanmatigend is. Die resultate wat verkry is, het getoon dat die ingeneursondersteuningsdepartement 'n hoër geneigdheid vir korporatiewe entrepreneuriese aktiwiteite gehad het, terwyl die projekafdelings 'n laer geneigdheid vir korporatiewe entrepreneurskap gehad het. Die resultate het ook getoon dat hoe hoër die posisie van 'n persoon in die maatskappyhiërargie is, hoe groter is die geneigdheid vir korporatiewe entrepreneurskap.