A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO STRENGTHENING CORPORATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACTIONS

• Elma van der Lingen Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1648-3564
• K-Y Chan Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5809-5215
• Michael Els Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2913-2362

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/34-3-2947

Abstract

Corporate entrepreneurial activities need to be aligned extensively with a company’s strategy. This study offers a systems approach to linking a company’s strategy with corporate entrepreneurship through IDEF0 modelling. The IDEF0 model provides the framework from which enabling and controlling mechanisms are derived. The objective of the investigation is to identify areas within the organisational structure of a company (both vertical and horizontal) where the enabling mechanisms of corporate entrepreneurial actions are prevalent and areas where they are lacking. The research also aims to identify areas where the controlling mechanisms of corporate entrepreneurial actions might be lacking or overbearing. The results show that the engineering support department had a higher proclivity for corporate entrepreneurial activities, while the projects department had a lower proclivity for corporate entrepreneurship. The results also show that the higher the position of a person in the company hierarchy, the higher the proclivity for corporate entrepreneurship.