Corporate Entrepreneurship

Contents

AIM OF THE COURSE

The focus of this coursis on the creation and management of entrepreneurial initiatives within a corporate context. The course will cover the entrepreneurial imperative for corporations, the unique nature of corporate entrepreneurship, and the levels and forms of entrepreneurship in established organizations. After identifying and defining external and internal manifestations of corporate entrepreneurship, the course will concentrate on what managers do to foster climates that faciliate internal corporate entrepreneurship.

We will discuss sound venturing strategies regarding ”what kind” of new businesses corproations choose to pursue and “how” those ventures should be structured and managed for maximal performance.

MAIN ISSUES

This course will explore issues facing corporations as they attempt to create a sustainable competitive advantage through entrepreneurial activities. Modern companies find themselves in a fast-paced, highly threatening, and increasingly global environment which forces them to continually redefine their markets, restructure their operations, and modify their business models. The abilities to think and act entrepreneurially and to innovate are becoming an increasingly important source of competitive advantage.

In spite of widespread recognition of the imperative for companies to behave entrepreneurially, most corporations struggle in these efforts. Traditional management practices emphasize safe, slow, and steady growth within hierarchical organization structures. Entrepreneurial management, on the other hand, focuses on rapid growth as the top priority, accepts the risk attendant with this growth philosophy, and implements flat organizational structures with multiple informal networks.

In this course, we will examine the apparent contradiction in the term ”corporate entreprenuership” and discuss managerial techniques and organizational structures that promote entrepreneurial behaviors in a corporate context. Attention will also be given to the difficulties inherent in the process of assessing entrepreneurial performance within a corporation and the control mechanism put in place by corporate managers to restrict the autonomy of corporate entrepreneurial initiatives.

TEACHING METHODOLOGY

This course will be taught primarily through the use of lecture and in-class discussion. Students will be expected to complete assigned readings before attending class to prepare themselves to make a contribution to the discussion. These readings will include textbook chapters, scholarly articles on the topic of corporate entrepreneurship, and relevant cases. When cases are assigned, students will be expected to deliver a case write-up and be able to present their analysis to the class. Assignments will be given and graded on an individual basis; no group work is anticipated for this course.

LEARNING OUTCOME

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
• Understand and evaluate the specific organizational challenges associated with corporate entrepreneurship and innovation in practice.
• Identify the elements of a corporate culture that either inhibit or support the process of corporate entreprenuership and innovation.
• Analyze how corporate entreprenuerial activities relate to a company’s ability to dirve innovation throughout the organization.
• Compare the attributes of various organizations regarded as leaders or corporate innovation and examine the synergy necessary between leadership, ethics, corporate culture, and organizational dynamics.

EVALUATION OF LEARNING OUTCOME: ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

By the end of the course students must be able to fulfill the above stated learning outcome.
Grade 12:
Grade 12 denote 100% target fulfillment related to the learning outcome.
Grade 02:
Grade 02 is the minimum grade required for passing and is therefore given for the minimum acceptable performance related to the learning outcome.

LITERATURE

• Textbook: Morris, M.H., Kuratko, D.F., & Covin, J.G. 2008. Corporate entrepreneurship and innovation. Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western.
• Selected articles from recent journals (i.e., Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Journal of Business Venturing, Business Horizons) on the topic of corporate entrepreneurship.