Intrapreneurship Institute Case Study-3M’s Successful Intrapreneurship “Bootlegging Policy”

March 26, 2012 - PRLog -- http://www.IntrapreneurshipInstitute.com - Intrapreneurship Institute Case Study of 3M "Post-It Notes" (TM) a new product created from 3M’s Successful Intrapreneurship “Bootlegging Policy”

By Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D. (CEO, Intrapreneurship Institute) the Leading Expert and Thought Leader on Intrapreneurship (Corporate Entrepreneurship), Keynote Speaker on Intrapreneurship, Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship Program Creation, Intrapreneurship Trainer, Intrapreneurship Program Expert.

Dr. Haller is a successful Serial Intrapreneur, proven Serial Entrepreneur, University Graduate Business School Professor and University Trustee, and seasoned Senior Corporate Executive; Chief Enlightenment Officer (CEO) of the Intrapreneurship Institute, and Author of the book "Intrapreneurship Success: A  PR1ME Example" (Dr. Haller's 1982 published academic research on intrapreneurship cited by Wikipedia.org. In addition Wikipedia.org also cited his 2009 book “Intrapreneurship Success” in the “History of Intrapreneurship”).

Intrapreneurship has successfully been utilized by corporations, partnerships and non-profit firms in the US, Europe, Asia and Africa. The underlying concept and idea of Intrapreneurship or Corporate Entrepreneurship had been present in corporations in the United States, Japan, and all around the world, for many decades, even before the term was used in the mid 1980’s in the mainstream media.

“Innovation and new product creation as result of an enlightened Company Intrapreneurship program is the ‘Secret Weapon’ for success within major firms such as: 3M, Anaconda-Ericsson, Apple, Autodesk, Corona Data Systems, Caribou Coffee, Gateway, GE, Genentech, Google, IBM, INTEL, iRobot, Kodak, Lockheed-Martin, PR1ME Computer, Rubbermaid, Sony, Sun Microsystems, TCI, Texas Instruments, Toyota, WL Gore, and Yahoo.” (A Quote from Dr. Howard Edward Haller’s 2009 published intrapreneurship book “Intrapreneurship Success.”)

Some enlightened corporations, such as 3M, do allow an employee-intrapreneur (corporate entrepreneur) some limited freedom to pursue new ideas. The corporate entrepreneur, or Intrapreneur, must convince senior management that their new, out of the main stream idea has merit, has possible market, and that the new produce would be both profitable and synergistic to the corporation.

Some major public companies such as 3M specifically foster and encourage intrapreneurial explorations on company time through formal corporate intrapreneurship programs.

Through 3M’s Intrapreneurial “Bootlegging Policy” is a program that allows the employee intrapreneur to spend up to 15 percent of their time at work developing their own creative ideas for the betterment of the company and the creation of new products or services for 3M.

3M continues to actively support their employee’s become Intrapreneurs by encouraging their innovation by providing the time off their job. 3M employees are allowed to spend up to 15% of their time working on be creative and innovative to explore the ideas that the employee (or Intraprepreneur, or what some call a Corporate Entrepreneur) thinks might benefit 3M. In addition to encouraging innovation and supporting Intrapreneurship with “time off” 3M also provides all the right necessary resources.

3M has led by action, support, grant funding, and not just words. 3M is a beacon of Intrapreneurship and is considered to be one of the most innovative companies in the not just the US, but the entire world.

A classic example of a successful Intrapreneurial creation of a new product is the story of 3M’s profitable product line “Post-it Notes” (TM).

Intrapreneurship success story 3M Post-It Notes (TM):

Intrapreneurs, like their entrepreneurial counterparts, need to envision and create an idea. But instead of convincing outside investors or risking their own personal capital, the intrapreneur needs to create the right team within the company he/she works for to successfully launch a new product(s).

Some enlightened corporations, such as 3M, do allow an employee-intrapreneur limited freedom to pursue new ideas. The corporate entrepreneur, or Intrapreneur, must convince senior management that their new, out of the main stream idea has merit, has possible market, and that the new produce would be both profitable and synergistic to the corporation.

A corporate entrepreneur or Intrapreneur is really an entrepreneur who has less risk in building a new venture. But this means that an Intrapreneur also has less control of when, or even whether, the product will be launched by his employing corporation. An intrapreneur must constantly stay focused and fully committed to the product and be willing to keep pushing, even if it takes years to produce their new product and deliver it to market!

Through 3M’s Intrapreneurship program called the “Bootlegging Policy,” (which allows employees to spend up to 15 percent of their time at work developing their own creative ideas for the betterment of the company and the creation of new products or services)  3M Corporation was able to capitalize on the creative ideas of 3M Intrapreneurs Spencer Silver and Art Fry to create and launch the 3M Post-it Note product. 3M scientist Spencer Silver invented a not-so-sticky adhesive in 1968, but it took him several years to come up with how to best use and market the product. Spencer shared his idea through seminars in which he shared the features (and benefits) of this semi-adhesive to fellow 3M employees.

After several years of sharing his idea finally someone caught the vision of Spencer Silver new product. A co-worker, Art Frey, recognized the need for Spencer’s idea! During choir practice and performances, Frey’s bookmarks were regularly falling out of his hymn book. The idea had found a market of removable notes. This innovative product concept solved his problem!  

In 1980, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing’s (3M) Post-its Notes product line, which is their moveable semi-sticky notes product, was successfully launched across the entire US, and internationally. This popular 3M product has been a "note worthy" Intrapreneurship success.

Dr. Howard Edward Haller is a successful Serial Intrapreneur, proven Serial Entrepreneur, University Graduate Business School Professor, University Trustee, and past two term President of major University Board .

"Doc" Haller is seasoned Senior Corporate Executive [Managing Director and Founder of Intrapreneurship Success Anaconda-Ericsson Finance and Leasing Inc. (a subsidiary of ARCO & LM Ericsson Anaconda Ericsson Inc. JV ) and Senior Vice President of United Artists/Tele-Communications Inc.).

Dr. Howard Haller is the Chief Enlightenment Officer (CEO) of the Intrapreneurship Institute, and Author of the book "Intrapreneurship Success: A PR1ME Example" (based on his 1982 published academic research on intrapreneurship cited by Wikipedia.com and Wikipedia.com also cited his book “Intrapreneurship Success” in the “History of Intrapreneurship”).

For more information about Intrapreneurship contact Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D. - The Leading Expert and Thought Leader on Intrapreneurship (Corporate Entrepreneurship). Dr. Haller is a Professional Keynote Speaker on Intrapreneurship, Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship Program Creation, Using an Intrapreneurship Program to Recruit and Retain Key Employees, and Intrapreneurship Program Expert.

For more articles or case studies on Intrapreneurship and Intrapreneurship programs please check out: http://www.IntrapreneurshipInstitute.com and visit the Resource Section.

Please call Dr. Howard Haller directly at: 509 465-9300,
or email: DrHaller@IntrapreneurshipInstitute.com
http://www.IntrapreneurshipInstitute.com

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http://www.IntrapreneurshipInstitute.com - Intrapreneurship Institute Case Studies by its CEO, Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D. - the Leading Expert and Thought Leader on Intrapreneurship (Corporate Entrepreneurship), Keynote Speaker on Intrapreneurship & Intrapreneurship Program Creation.

The Creation of a successful and effective Intrapreneurship Program can be accomplished with professional assistance from the Intrapreneurship Institute and its Founder and CEO, Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D., a "street smart" Intrapreneur

Dr. Haller is a successful Serial Intrapreneur, proven Serial Entrepreneur, University Graduate Business School Professor and University Trustee, and seasoned Senior Corporate Executive. He is the Author of the book "Intrapreneurship Success: A PR1ME Example" (Haller's 1982 published academic research on intrapreneurship cited by Wikipedia.org. Wikipedia.org also cited Dr Haller's 2009 book “Intrapreneurship Success” in the “History of Intrapreneurship”).