Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2004
Abstract
With the current competitive challenges facing for-profit and nonprofits organizations, observers have advocated the implementation of internal entrepreneurial actions as a response. Internal entrepreneurship--defined as risk taking, innovativeness, and proactiveness actions--are examined to determine what mechanisms are at work in promoting these actions among both managers and employees in organizations. Four organizations--two from each sector--were studied using a grounded theory approach, with semi-structured qualitative interviews performed with 15 managers and employees. Data analysis and coding resulted in a conceptual model that provides a parsimonious explanation of the mechanisms that promote entrepreneurial actions in organizations. Three key mechanisms that stem from individual, managerial, organizational, and situational characteristics--trust, motivation, and an enabling mechanism--were identified as key mediating variables and represent constructs that have not been previously studied in the context of internal entrepreneurship. Given the small sample of the study, future large scale hypothesis testing research is called for.
Keywords
entrepreneurship, interorganizational relations
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Stull, Michael G., "Exploring the Factors that Promote Risk Taking, Innovativeness, and Proactiveness among Managers and Employees: the Influence of Trust, Motivational, and Enabling Mechanisms" (2004). Student Scholarship. 212.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/212
