The Intrapreneurial Drive

Abstract

The process of innovations within organizations and the act of motivating employees to perform better is an age-old phenomenon. Entrepreneurship as a process outside organisations is well established but within them it continues to be transient and illusory. This paper is an attempt to understand the intrapreneurial drive through various schools of thought. The concept of intrapreneurial personality is looked at through Personality Spectrum Theory advocated by Lessem in 1988, then with the Five Factor Model of personality proposed by Costa and McCrae in 1992. The role of experiences in organisations is examined under Upper Echelons Theory proposed by Hambrick and Mason in 1984. Apart from personality and organisational experiences facilitating intrapreneurship, it is conceptualised that organisational commitment will moderate it. The Three Component Model of organizational commitment advocated by Allen and Meyer in 1990 is discussed along with possible implications. Employees within organizations today have more autonomy and support to perform effectively. Theories and metaphors on human motivation have been brought in to cogently assess intrapreneurial drive. It is recommended that organizationsmust gear up further to encourage and incentivise intrapreneurial talent in order to stay competitive.