Entrepreneurial universities and intrapreneurship: A process model on the emergence of an intrapreneurial university

Abstract

With this paper we aim to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms that facilitate the emergence of an intrapreneurial university by considering a longitudinal, single case study. Our process model shows the specific mechanisms (i.e., enabling and supporting) that drive the transformation of scattered individual-level abilities (i.e., competencies, mindset and networks, playing as antecedents) into organizational intrapreneurial abilities, endowed within the university. Our study contributes to a growing stream of studies on intrapreneurial universities, exploring how universities internally anticipate, address and manage change, how they organize and orchestrate resources and competencies, thus showing intrapreneurial abilities. In terms of managerial implications we suggest university managers to take in consideration that entrepreneurial approaches should to be better promoted internally, by cultivating a culture of change, creativity and innovation, as well as fostering team-working activities.