Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Large Firms

This chapter examines: new venture creation in established organisations, the intrapreneurial process, the middle manager as an entrepreneur, the roles of sponsors, and climate makers. The infusion of entrepreneurial thinking into large corporate organisational structures has emerged as a key area of management attention since the 1990s. As levels of competition have accelerated, the creative and innovative nature of entrepreneurship has come to be seen as a way of enhancing the competitiveness of organisations and encouraging employees to view themselves as owners. This has seen organisations attempting to encourage employees to tap into their creative and innovative talents, and seeking to promote innovation.