How an IT Intrapreneur Effectively Manages
An IT intrapreneur is an employee who acts as an entrepreneur while still working at the same company. They can come up with ideas to improve a company’s current products and services or they may be looking for ways to solve a problem within the organization that can benefit employees, customers or stakeholders. Intrapreneurs can find themselves in a wide range of industries and roles depending on their skill sets and interests. However, it is important for intrapreneurs to understand how to manage and prioritize their projects in order to be successful.
Managing IT intrapreneur requires a unique combination of skills. Intrapreneurs must be able to develop a vision that is both commercial and socially meaningful to their organizations while simultaneously navigating the complexity of existing organizational structures and systems. They also must be able to communicate their ideas clearly to both external and internal stakeholders.
This is not an easy task. Stakeholders may not fully appreciate the social or commercial impact of intrapreneurship and will often view it as a threat to core business activities (Kanter, 1985). They are likely to demand that intrapreneurs follow formal procedures and prove their project’s worthiness. This can distract intrapreneurs from pursuing their vision.
How an IT Intrapreneur Effectively Manages and Prioritizes Initiatives
Stakeholders may also feel that intrapreneurs’ willingness to engage in entrepreneurial activities undermines the legitimacy of public or nonprofit sector organizations as participants in markets. This is particularly true for social intrapreneurs who attempt to create innovation paths that depart from the differing institutional logics of private, public and nonprofit sector organizations. Social intrapreneurs may be able to assuage these concerns by employing a combination of other- and self-oriented motives to promote the belief that their initiatives will ultimately pay off (Aguinis & Glavas, 2019).
Another way for intrapreneurs to manage these challenges is to build support networks outside of their immediate workplace. This can help them to gain a better perspective on their projects and to provide valuable feedback. Intrapreneurs should also focus on building a strong network of supporters within their organization to help them overcome obstacles.
An intrapreneur’s problem-solving abilities are one of their most valuable assets. They can use these skills to resolve issues that affect their work and coworkers, such as computer malfunctions or inefficient processes. They can also offer their ideas to supervisors and colleagues to assist them with achieving organizational goals. For example, an intrapreneur may suggest new ways to implement marketing campaigns or create a social media strategy that can increase company engagement. They can even propose innovative ways to recruit employees or improve the company’s reputation in their industry.