Differentiating between Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs: a Competency approach.

Recently the contribution of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship to economic wealth and sustained job creation has received more emphasis. The number of startups in the Netherlands has increased by 50%. Unfortunately, the majority of start-ups are faced with failure within the first three to five years (Klein, 2002). Organizations place high value on intrapreneurial employees who are innovative and responsible for strategic renewal. Past studies on entrepreneurship have focused on identifying types of entrepreneurship, while little is known about intrapreneurship. The aim of this study is to construct an extensive typology on those competencies perceived as both important and frequently used in the successful performance of the entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial activities. A questionnaire assessing the importance and frequency of the competencies was developed. Competency items were divided under seven competency clusters. Kunkel’s Entrepreneurial Activities Typology (2001) was used to differentiate between types of entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial activities.