Understanding the Obstacles to Corporate Entrepreneurship

1. Understanding the Obstacles to Corporate Entrepreneurship • Reasons for an emphasis on Entrepreneurship • Framework for understanding the obstacles • Limitations that constrain the corporate entrepreneur • Overcoming the obstacles and limitations

2. Reasons for an Emphasis on Entrepreneurship • Strategic necessity • Maturation of existing businesses

3. Framework for Understanding the Obstacles • Six major obstacles – Table 9.2 • Systems • Structures • Strategic Direction • Policies and Procedures • People • Culture

4. Limitations that Constrain the Corporate Entrepreneur • Lack of Political Savvy: Learning to work the system • Lack of Time: Crisis Management • Lack of Rewards for Innovation: Beyond Tokenism • Lack of Good Financial Proposals: Projecting the Numbers • Lack of People Development Skills: Autocracy Rules • Lack of Legitimacy: Untested Concept and Untested Entrepreneur • Lack of “Seed” Capital: The Problem of Early Resources

5. Limitations - Continued • Lack of Open Ownership: Protecting Turf • Lack of a Sponsor: Someone to Watch over You • Lack of Energy and Shared Enthusiasm: the Inertia Problem • Lack of Personal Renewal: the Issue of Reinforced Denial • Lack of Urgency: Fear as Good and Bad • Lack of Appropriate Timing: The Resource-Shift Dilemma

6. Overcoming the Obstacles and Limitations • Build Social Capital • Gain Legitimacy • Political Tactics • Resource Acquisition • Co-optation • Focus on the Right Obstacles at the Right Time