Managing entrepreneurs within organizations

It is suggested that entrepreneurs have characteristics and preferences which distinguish them from the typical corporate employee. Sometimes these individuals leave organizations to start new companies, and sometimes economic conditions force them to hold corporate positions. If these people are appropriately placed and effectively managed, they can be very valuable to the organization. However, if they are placed in positions which do not allow expression of their unique characteristics, or if corporate reward systems do not meet their needs, they will likely become demotivated and unproductive. It is argued that entrepreneurs within organizations may be motivated by different factors than other employees. The basic concepts of motivation are the same, but the emphasis and outcomes will probably be different from those of the typical corporate employee. It is concluded that to effectively motivate individuals to accomplish corporate goals, the corporate reward system should be flexible enough to meet individual needs.