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Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Written by Paul Burns

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529 pages, about 11 hours of reading

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About this book

It is insufficient for businesses to grow simply by cutting costs and acquiring competitors. To achieve true success, organisations must bring innovative ideas to market, and avoid an ageing product or service portfolio. In this textbook, author Paul Burns draws on decades of academic and entrepreneurial experience to guide students through the four pillars of his original entrepreneurial architecture framework - organizational culture, structures and controls, leadership and management and strategies and tactics – laying out the ways in which each business function is required to adapt to ensure success. The 5th edition includes: - Over 75 global case insights, including coverage of companies from DeepMind to Solarbrella, Patagonia to Samsung, demonstrating the practicalities of corporate entrepreneurship in the real world. - New content on the fallout of COVID-19, AI, digitalisation and climate change to prepare students for the ever-changing global business world of today. - The 'Explore Further' feature, containing links to video animations, talks by leading academics and practitioners, psychometric tests and websites providing 'step off' points to deepen learning. This is a must-read for students of corporate entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship or corporate venturing at upper undergraduate, postgraduate or MBA level. The book is also essential reading for courses on Strategic Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 20 hours
  • advanced
  • informative
  • practical
  • strategic

Paul Burns' "Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation" is a seminal textbook that challenges traditional growth paradigms, advocating for innovation as the cornerstone of sustained business success. Drawing on extensive academic and practical experience, Burns introduces his original entrepreneurial architecture framework, built upon four crucial pillars: organizational culture, structures and controls, leadership and management, and strategies and tactics. The 5th edition enriches this framework with over 75 global case studies and updated content addressing contemporary challenges such as COVID-19, AI, digitalization, and climate change, making it an indispensable resource for students seeking to understand and implement corporate entrepreneurship in a dynamic global landscape.

"It is insufficient for businesses to grow simply by cutting costs and acquiring competitors. To achieve true success, organisations must bring innovative ideas to market, and avoid an ageing product or service portfolio."

Key themes

Corporate Entrepreneurship as a Growth Strategy
This is the central theme, arguing that sustainable growth for businesses requires internal innovation and bringing new ideas to market, rather than solely relying on cost-cutting or external acquisitions. The book positions corporate entrepreneurship as a deliberate, strategic imperative.
Organizational Culture as an Enabler of Innovation
The book emphasizes that an organization's underlying culture is foundational for fostering an environment where innovation can thrive. This involves promoting risk-taking, learning from failure, collaboration, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
Strategic Adaptation to Global Challenges
This theme highlights the necessity for businesses to continuously adapt their entrepreneurial strategies in response to significant global shifts. The book integrates contemporary issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of AI, digitalization, and climate change as critical factors influencing corporate innovation.

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How does Burns' entrepreneurial architecture framework challenge traditional views of corporate growth, and what are the implications for established businesses?

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