Journal of Management Studies· 2012Q1
Innovation for Inclusive Business: Intrapreneurial Bricolage in Multinational Corporations
- 437citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2012year
Short summary
Multinational corporations can innovate pro-poor business models, but internal management structures often hinder this. This study introduces 'intrapreneurial bricolage,' where middle managers creatively use scarce resources to overcome these obstacles.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- MNC management frameworks (short-term profit, incentives, uncertainty avoidance) can obstruct pro-poor business innovation.
- Intrapreneurial bricolage is defined as entrepreneurial activity using creative bundling of scarce resources within a large organization.
- This bricolage enables innovators to overcome organizational constraints and mobilize resources for pro-poor business models.
- The study empirically illustrates how this process works in two MNCs.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
abstract It is often argued that multinational corporations (MNCs) are in a unique position to innovate business models that can help to alleviate poverty. This empirical study into intra‐organizational aspects of pro‐poor business innovation in two MNCs suggests, however, that certain elements of their management frameworks – such as short‐term profit interests, business unit based incentive structures, and uncertainty avoidance – may turn into obstacles that prevent MNCs from reaching their full potential in this respect. We introduce the concept of intrapreneurial bricolage to show how middle manager innovators may promote pro‐poor business models despite these obstacles. We define intrapreneurial bricolage as entrepreneurial activity within a large organization characterized by creative bundling of scarce resources, and illustrate empirically how it helps innovators to overcome organizational constraints and to mobilize internal and external resources. Our findings imply that intrapreneurial bricolage may be of fundamental importance in MNC innovation for inclusive business. In addition to the field of inclusive business, this study has implications for the study of bricolage in large organizations and social intrapreneurship, as well for managerial practice around innovation for inclusive business.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Management Studies, 2012 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Business and International Management
Business and International ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting