Uncharted Territory - Essential Skills Ontario

NEW MODELS FOR A NEW WORLDThree characteristics of social intrapreneurs• they work inside major corporations or organizations to develop and promotepractical solutions to social or environmental challenges where progress is currently stalled bymarket failures• they apply the principles of social entrepreneurship inside a major organization• they take an ‘insider-outsider’ mindset and approach (SustainAbility, 2008. p. 4)Source: The Social Intrapreneur: A Field Guide for Corporate Changemakers4.3 Social IntrapreneurshipIntrapreneurs are similar to entrepreneurs, but work within establishedcorporations, organizations and institutions. “Intrapreneurship” is defined byorganizational practices and management styles that integrate risk-taking,innovative approaches, and the reward and motivational techniques moretraditionally associated with entrepreneurship (Social Innovation Generation,retrieved 2012, p. 4). 3M and Google, for example, use intrapreneurship as amanagement practice to encourage employees to be more innovative andkeep their companies competitive. In many enterprises, intrapreneurs are theindividuals who, without being asked, undertake something new, focus oninnovation and creativity and transform an idea into a profitable undertaking,while operating within the organizational environment (De Jong &Wennekers, 2008). [see Three characteristics of social intrapreneurs]Social intrapreneurs resemble entrepreneurs in adapting well to new contextsand circumstances and often thriving on risk and uncertainty as they searchfor new ways for solving societal challenges. However, they also differ inimportant ways. While both are inclined towards action, intrapreneurs arepropelled by their positions within larger organizations, to tie theirinnovations into the processes and business case elements of the venture. Inaddition, while most intrapreneurs are comfortable acting independently ofthe larger organization for periods of time while they incubate theirinnovations, they also uniformly value teamwork, “understanding the criticalneed to engage others to develop buy-in and, ultimately, push ownership ofnew concepts through their organization” (SustainAbility, 2008. p.13).Uncharted Territory: Can Social Innovation Revitalize Literacy and Essential Skills Programs? • 17