'Intrapreneurs', a new function in corporate life?

Is it just a a new buzz, or is there something more fundamental going on? Fact is that the use of the term ‘intrapreneur’ has grown rapidly past two years. You know: employees whose mission it is to create little start-ups within established companies – or at least use start-up techniques to implement new ideas within their companies.

However, the skepticism with which intrapreneurs are received by ‘true’ entrepreneurs makes some sense. Their biggest arguments:

• True entrepreneurs take true financials risks. In comparison, salaried intrapreneurs are bathing in luxurious security. 
• True entrepreneurs built their start-ups themselves, stone by stone. Intrapreneurs can rely on the services of their company for virtually all overhead tasks. 
• >True entrepreneurs are driven by their passion, their mission. Since the work of intrapreneurs will ultimately benefit their employer, their drive would be much less.

All valid arguments. But let’s say you’re 28. You have a couple of years of experience in the corporate world, but you’re eager to build your own thing. Develop your own idea from a to z. Take full responsibility for the problems that might arise. Solve them all by yourself. Fight to survive, but ultimately reap the full and juicy fruit of the success that will inevitably come.

On the other side: you have one or two kids that are still in an expensive daycare. You just built the house of your dream –with an expensive mortgage. You enjoy having two or three weeks of holiday to discover exotic places. You have some hobbies that are not necessarily expensive, but that require some investments.

So you have the choice: either you (1) repress your entrepreneurial dreams, work hard from 9 to 5 and try to have a fulfilling life next to it (that’s so generation babyboomer), or (2) you try to combine things and test your ideas in your free hours, or even within your company (that’s so genX), or (3) you take the risk and chase your dream (that’s so… ehm…).

Is there a middle way? Well, yes: become an intrapreneur. Let’s be honest, this is just a fresh term for something that exists since modern corporations were born. Any innovative project that was launched and managed by an employee could be seen as an act of intrapreneurship. Nevertheless, it diserves a term on its own, especially now given the vital importance of innovation in corporate life nowadays. In a time where new business models redesign complete markets you’d better be pro-active and redesign it yourself. And therefore you need… yes: intrapreneurs.

How companies should adapt their culture to reap the benefits of social media

What is the true impact of the emergence of social media on companies? The question might sound trivial nowadays. Aren’t virtually all companies –at least the public ones- ‘present’ on social media, in one form or another? They probably are. But are they getting the maximum out of this ‘presence’? In other words: do they use social media as a strategic tool rather than a tactical one?

In his latest book, Steven Van Belleghem calls companies making strategic use of social media the ‘Conversation companies’. Rarely has a business author chosen a better word to express his idea: successfully using social media means leading conversations with whomever is talking about you, it’s about re-actively AND pro-actively engaging with your audience. Companies all too often limit their social media presence to sending company updates (hoping that nobody will reply) or (if they’re a little more sophisticated) replying to complaints and negative comments.

These companies are dealing with a massive amount of what Steven calls ‘unused conversation potential’. Use this potential fully, and you’ll reap the benefits of loyal fans of your brands.

The caveat? You’ll need to have a very close look at your company’s culture, and most probably adapt it. That’s easier said than done, but it’s not impossible. Steven’s book ‘the conversation company’ provides a concrete –and feasible- roadmap on how to do this. With a massive amount of case studies to make his point(s).

How strange however that Steven first wrote a book about ‘The Conversation Manager’ before writing ‘The conversation company’: I can’t imagine any company appointing a conversation manager before they turned into a conversation company. Nevertheless, Steven’s message is pressing: companies that don’t take these conversations seriously face the risk of being left behind. Perhaps for good.

A crucial read !

The future of shopping

A preview of the (near) future customer experience, according to BlackBerry... what's striking is that online tools are being integrated into the 'real life' experience, they don't replace it...

Is the 'Bring your own device' trend viable for businesses?

It almost sounds like a good deal for everyone: bring your own devices (BYOD) to work for professional reasons. For employers obviously this reduces some costs (but increases some risks at the same time), while employees would be able to work with the devices that they are familiar with -and that are often much more
performant than the devices they receive from their employer (never believed the latter argument until I started working on my own...).

But is it real? According to research company IDC, currently 41% of the devices used at work are owned by the employees, and this will rise to 55% by 2015. I guess the smart phones take a lion share of that. More intriguing is the idea to use personal apps for professional use (or, at least, have the employer let you choose which apps you want to use).

One step closer to the virtual company... but do you think that's a good thing?

3 megatrends infographic: personal productivity, speed and the clash between tech and real world

Very insightful infograph by Launchcapital - who unfortunately don't have a Facebook or Twitter share functionality, so I'll have to share it this way... all credit goes to them, however, this is nicely thought-provoking stuff - although limited to 3 areas:

• personal productivity
• the clash between tech and real world
• the impact of speed