IBT-Topic-5-Notes
IBT-Topic-5-Notes
What is entrepreneurship?
The word entrepreneur actually originates from the 13th century French word 'entreprendre'
which means to undertake or to do something. By the 16th century this had become the noun
entrepreneur, taken to mean someone who undertakes a business project or speculation.
Entrepreneurship is the practice of starting a new business or renewing an existing one, in order
to capitalize on new opportunities. Without the essential element of initiative, no new venture
can be successful
Entrepreneurs can be categorized as the operator, the builder, and the creators. Lastly,
entrepreneurs are crucial to the economy since they encourage economic growth by creating
new services and commodities that stimulate new employment opportunities
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Global Entrepreneurship
Global entrepreneurship refers to the practice of starting, managing, and growing a business
that operates across international borders. In today’s interconnected world, entrepreneurs are
no longer confined to their home markets; instead, they seek opportunities globally to expand
their reach, tap into new customer bases, and access diverse resources.
Global entrepreneurship has become increasingly important due to factors like advancements in
technology, which make it easier to communicate and conduct business across different
countries, and the reduction of trade barriers, which facilitates the movement of goods, services,
and capital. Entrepreneurs who venture into global markets can benefit from larger and more
diverse markets, reduced costs through global sourcing, and the ability to mitigate risks by
diversifying their operations across multiple regions.
However, global entrepreneurship also comes with challenges, such as navigating different
cultural norms, dealing with varied regulatory environments, and managing risks associated with
currency fluctuations and political instability. Successful global entrepreneurs must be
adaptable, culturally aware, and capable of leveraging global networks and partnerships.
Overall, global entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in driving economic growth, fostering
innovation, and creating jobs worldwide. It reflects the dynamic and borderless nature of the
modern business landscape, where opportunities and competition are truly global.
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Global Intrapreneurship
The importance of global intrapreneurship has grown as companies face increasing pressure to
innovate continuously and respond to global trends, such as digital transformation,
sustainability, and changing consumer preferences. By empowering employees to act as
intrapreneurs, companies can harness the creative potential of their workforce, encouraging
them to experiment with new ideas and take calculated risks without the fear of failure
associated with traditional entrepreneurship.
Overall, global intrapreneurship is a powerful way for companies to drive growth and innovation
from within, allowing them to stay ahead in the global marketplace by continuously adapting to
new challenges and opportunities.
▪ Ken Kutaragi is the intrapreneur behind the launch of the first Sony's PlayStation in
December 1994 in Japan
▪ It eventually became the first “computer entertainment platform” to ship over 100
million units, doing so in under a decade.
Google’s Gmail
▪ Paul Buchheit started his career at Google in 1999, becoming the company’s 23rd
employee.
▪ Development of a web-based email, DOUBTED STRONGLY by many within the
company
▪ Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Founders of Google, decided to support Buchheit with
his project
▪ The Outcome:
▪ Gmail did blow away Hotmail and Yahoo Mail
▪ Small experiment to becoming a key service of Google’s product offering with over
1.5 billion global active users
▪ Gmail and Google AdSense advertising program set the foundations for Google’s
online advertising service to generate $147 billion in revenue in 2020.
Frito-Lay’s Cheetos
In summary, while both global entrepreneurship and global intrapreneurship involve innovation
and cross-border activities, they differ significantly in their approaches, resources, risks, and
scopes. Entrepreneurs create new ventures independently, facing high risks but also enjoying
complete control. In contrast, intrapreneurs innovate within the safety net of a larger
organization, focusing on enhancing the company’s global operations while working within
certain constraints.
Global entrepreneurship operates within a complex set of environments that shape how
entrepreneurs start, grow, and manage their ventures across international borders. Here are the
key environments that influence global entrepreneurship:
Economic Environment
The economic environment includes factors like economic stability, market size, growth rates,
and the availability of capital. Entrepreneurs must navigate differences in income levels,
consumer spending power, inflation rates, and access to funding sources such as banks,
venture capital, or government grants. Favorable economic conditions can create opportunities,
while economic downturns or instability can pose challenges.
The social environment includes demographic trends, education levels, and social attitudes
towards entrepreneurship. Factors like population growth, urbanization, and shifts in consumer
behavior influence market demand and labor availability. Social trends, such as the growing
focus on sustainability or health-consciousness, can also create new business opportunities.
The cultural environment involves the values, beliefs, behaviors, and customs of different
societies. Entrepreneurs must understand and adapt to cultural differences in communication,
negotiation, consumer preferences, and business practices. Cultural awareness and sensitivity
are crucial for building trust and successfully entering new markets.
Technological Environment
Environmental Factors
The competitive environment refers to the level of competition within and across international
markets. Entrepreneurs must assess the competitive landscape, including the presence of local
and international competitors, market entry barriers, and the potential for strategic alliances.
Understanding the competitive environment helps in positioning the business effectively.
This includes international trade agreements, tariffs, and the overall ease of doing business
across borders. Free trade agreements, regional trade blocs, and international trade policies
can significantly impact market access and cost structures for global entrepreneurs.
The internal environment includes the company’s culture, leadership support, organizational
structure, and resources. A supportive corporate culture that encourages innovation, risk-taking,
and creativity is crucial for intrapreneurship. Access to funding, time, and tools, along with
strong backing from top management, empowers intrapreneurs to pursue their initiatives. In
contrast, rigid hierarchies, lack of support, and a focus on short-term results can stifle
intrapreneurial efforts.
Intrapreneurs must navigate the political and legal environments of the countries in which their
company operates. This includes understanding local regulations, compliance requirements,
trade laws, and political stability. Multinational corporations often have to deal with complex
legal environments across different jurisdictions, which can impact the feasibility and execution
of intrapreneurial initiatives.
Economic Environment
The broader economic environment affects the company’s overall strategy and resource
allocation. Economic conditions such as market growth, recession, or inflation can influence the
availability of funds for intrapreneurial projects. Companies may be more willing to invest in new
ideas during times of economic growth, while economic downturns might lead to budget cuts
and reduced risk tolerance.
Social factors, such as changing consumer behavior, demographic trends, and societal values,
influence intrapreneurial projects. For instance, there is growing emphasis on sustainability,
diversity, and corporate social responsibility, which can shape intrapreneurial initiatives focused
on social impact, eco-friendly products, or inclusive business practices.
The cultural environment plays a significant role in global intrapreneurship. Intrapreneurs must
be aware of cultural differences within the company’s global workforce, as well as in the external
markets they target. Effective communication, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to adapt
products or services to meet local preferences are critical for success.
Technological Environment
Environmental Factors
Intrapreneurs must also consider the environmental impact of their projects, especially as global
companies face increasing pressure to meet sustainability standards and reduce their carbon
footprint. This includes aligning intrapreneurial initiatives with the company’s environmental
goals and complying with international environmental regulations.
Competitive Environment
The competitive landscape within the industry influences the direction of intrapreneurial
activities. Intrapreneurs need to stay aware of global trends, competitors’ innovations, and shifts
in market demands. Understanding the competitive environment helps intrapreneurs identify
gaps in the market and develop solutions that give their company a competitive edge.
Global Trade Environment
For global intrapreneurs, understanding the dynamics of international trade, tariffs, supply chain
complexities, and trade agreements is crucial. These factors can influence the cost, speed, and
feasibility of launching new products or services in different regions.
Supportive Leadership
Culture of Innovation
A company culture that values creativity, experimentation, and learning from failure is essential.
Employees should feel safe to propose new ideas without fear of criticism or failure.
Encouraging collaboration, open communication, and celebrating innovative efforts, even if they
don’t succeed, helps build an innovative culture.
Access to Resources
Intrapreneurs need access to resources such as time, funding, and tools to develop and test
their ideas. Companies should provide dedicated budgets for innovation, access to technology,
and the ability to use company assets like research and development facilities or marketing
channels.
Empowering employees with the autonomy to explore new ideas, make decisions, and take
ownership of projects is crucial. This includes allowing them the flexibility to work on
intrapreneurial projects outside of their regular responsibilities and the authority to drive those
projects forward.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Establishing clear processes for proposing, evaluating, and developing intrapreneurial projects
helps streamline innovation efforts. This might include innovation labs, dedicated teams, or a
formal intrapreneurship program with guidelines on how to pitch ideas, secure funding, and
move projects forward.
A successful intrapreneurship environment embraces risk and understands that failure is part of
the innovation process. Companies should foster a mindset that views failures as learning
opportunities and encourages employees to experiment without fear of negative consequences.
Intrapreneurial activities should align with the company’s overall strategic goals. Clear
communication of these goals helps intrapreneurs understand how their projects fit into the
broader vision of the company, ensuring that their efforts are not just innovative but also
strategically relevant.
Providing opportunities for employees to learn and develop new skills is important for sustaining
intrapreneurship. Offering training in areas like design thinking, innovation management, or
entrepreneurship, as well as access to mentorship, can equip intrapreneurs with the skills and
confidence they need.
Effective Communication Channels
Open and effective communication channels are necessary for sharing ideas, feedback, and
progress updates. Platforms for idea sharing, such as innovation hubs, internal social networks,
or suggestion systems, can facilitate communication and keep everyone aligned.