In my recent posts, Value, Value, Value! The Businesslike Agility and Agile — From Delivery to Value, I focused on one essential idea: value comes first. It’s not about delivering for the sake of delivery, but about ensuring that every effort, every sprint, every MVP, and every release drives tangible and measurable outcomes.
However, the power to create value doesn’t rest solely in the hands of leadership; it resides within every individual, at every level of the organization. This is true today more than ever.
What if a a team recognize an untapped customer need? Shouldn’t they take the initiative to innovate, within responsibility boundaries, instead of waiting for top-down directives?
Building on that it’s clear that being proactive, spotting opportunities, and driving the necessary change (intrapreneurial mindset) within organizations can supercharge this shift towards value. Pair all this with Agile and Sociocracy 3.0 (S3), and you have a powerful combination of ingredients that could tremendously accelerate its creation.
Let me show you how this trio—Intrapreneurship, Agile, and S3—can turn every team member into a creator of value.
The Power of Intrapreneurship: A Strategic Imperative
Intrapreneurship can be defined as the ability for employees to act as entrepreneurs within their organizations.
It’s about identifying opportunities (e.g. business development, waste reduction, cost efficiency, etc.), taking initiative, and driving innovation while operating within the structure of their companies.
It’s Better to Ask For Forgiveness Than Permission
Why is this critical? Well, the pace of market evolution demands those companies not only to adapt but proactively shape their futures by trying to exploit every single “neuron” of the people belonging to their organizations. Intrapreneurship does exactly that:
- Teams think beyond their roles and look for creative solutions to complex problems (Innovation).
- Organizations can pivot quickly and spot emerging opportunities (Resilience).
- People bring ideas to life that directly benefit customers and strengthen their businesses (Value).
What if a a team recognize an untapped customer need? Shouldn’t they take the initiative to innovate, within responsibility boundaries, instead of waiting for top-down directives?
Acting as intrapreneur means to make the motto “It’s Better to Ask For Forgiveness Than Permission” the primary work philosophy.
Once an initiative has been spotted it needs to be accompanied with logic, evidence, data, that shows its consistency and, once pitched to the sponsor and convinced, moving on as a Start-up: start small, build incrementally, test and measure results before moving to the next step.
Agile: The Catalyst for an Intrapreneurial Mindset
The Agile mindset perfectly aligns with intrapreneurship. Agile empowers teams to experiment, iterate, and deliver value quickly and efficiently. How?
- Rapid Iterations: Iterative cycles encourage experimentation, enabling teams to test ideas and refine solutions without waiting for prolonged planning cycles.
- Autonomy: Agile fosters environments where cross-functional teams have space to organize and execute their work, promoting ownership and accountability.
- Value-Driven Focus: Agile prioritizes work that directly impacts the customer, ensuring every effort aligns with measurable outcomes.
Pairing the intrapreneurial mindset with Agile transforms ordinary teams into engines of value creation, equipped to tackle challenges and deliver results.
S3: Beyond Agile and Lean
Sociocracy 3.0 (S3) builds on the foundations of Agile and Lean by introducing tools and practices that enhance collaboration, alignment, and decision-making across an organization (read S3 Practical Guide).
S3 can be thought as collection of principles and patterns for evolving agile and resilient organizations.
Central to its effectiveness is the use of Drivers, which clarify the “why” behind every initiative, and Circles, which organize teams around shared purposes, by adopting practical patterns and adopting them to their unique very nature.
What is a Driver?
A Driver is a need, challenge, or opportunity that urges for action. It acts as the anchor for decision-making, ensuring that all initiatives are directly tied to delivering measurable value.
Using Drivers, S3 promotes a backward approach:
- Define the Driver: Clearly articulate the purpose and desired outcomes for addressing a specific need or opportunity.
- Identify the Resources: Based on the Driver, determine the human and financial resources required.
- Form Circles: Assemble small, cross-functional Circles of individuals with the necessary expertise and authority to act.
The Role of Circles in Value Creation
S3 uses Circles to decentralize decision-making and focus teams on specific Drivers.
Circles operate semi-autonomously, while remaining aligned with the organization’s broader purpose. This approach ensures agility and clarity:
- Decentralized Ownership: Circles are empowered to address Drivers without unnecessary bottlenecks, fostering accountability and faster execution.
- Feedback Loops: Circles engage in regular retrospectives and evaluations, incorporating continuous feedback to ensure progress aligns with the Driver’s intent.
How Does S3 Enable Value Creation?
- Targeted Action: By focusing on Drivers, teams address the most impactful opportunities or problems, ensuring resources are used strategically.
- Empowered Teams: S3 emphasizes transparency and participation, enabling teams to take ownership of Drivers and act decisively.
- Scalable Flexibility: S3’s modular approach makes it adaptable to any organization, ensuring alignment at every level.
Whether it’s seizing a new business opportunity or optimizing internal processes, S3 provides the structure to channel intrapreneurial energy into measurable results.
Future Belongs to Intrapreneurs
Organizations that embrace intrapreneurship, supported by Agile and S3, don’t just survive in the face of change—they thrive. These companies lead markets, shape industries, and deliver value that resonates deeply with customers and stakeholders.
The question is: will you watch the change from the sidelines, or will you be the one driving it?
Now is the time to act. The future belongs to those who dare to innovate, collaborate, and create.
Be that change. Be an intrapreneur.
