Fostering Local Entrepreneurship in a Multinational Enterprise

Corporate entrepreneurship involves formal and informal activities aimed at new business creation within established companies, the strategic renewal of existing business, and ultimately, the search for sustainable competitive advantage in an increasingly globalized economy. The importance of such entrepreneurial actions on the part of established organizations has been acknowledged for well over two decades in academic literature, yet much remains to be revealed about how corporate entrepreneurship is enacted in different organizational settings.

This book examines endeavors to foster ‘local entrepreneurship’ within a large conglomerate multinational enterprise – Siemens AG. Founded in 1847 as Siemens & Halske AG by Werner von Siemens, Siemens AG today represents one of the oldest companies among the top global players, and is currently ranked 58 in terms of revenue in the Global Fortune 500 (2014). In early 2009, following a prolonged period of business stagnation and a huge bribery scandal, Siemens' top management identified a severe lack of entrepreneurship in the company as a critical issue. The strengthening of ‘local entrepreneurship’ was thus made a new key action item in the strategic planning of Siemens AG for 2010 to 2014. Through an examination of three very different entrepreneurial initiatives in the Siemens business unit Fire Safety between 2008 and 2012, the book identifies key drivers and impediments to corporate entrepreneurship in this global organization.

This book thus offers a rare contribution to our growing – yet still fledgling – understanding of corporate entrepreneurship in global corporations.

Joe Amberg holds a DBA from Strathclyde University, UK, a MBA from University of St.Gallen and a Bachelor of Science from University of Rapperswil (CH). From 1999 to 2012 Dr Amberg was employed in the Siemens Business Technologies Division, Fire Safety Unit, or its predecessors. His various roles included Head of R&D Fire Systems, Project Portfolio Manager Fire Systems, Global R&D Coordinator (12 locations) and Innovation Manager, Integration Manager for a Korean acquisition, and Business Development and Strategy for the global fire safety business. Dr Amberg is currently engaged in global portfolio project management and is project lead of critical innovation projects for V-ZUG AG, a Swiss household appliances corporation.

Sara McGaughey holds a PhD from the University of Queensland, and an MBA and BA(Japanese) from Monash University, Australia. Sara is currently a Professor of International Business (Strategy and Entrepreneurship) at Griffith University, Australia, with previous appointments at Copenhagen Business School, University of Leeds, Strathclyde University and University of New South Wales. Her research expertise includes small firm internationalization; corporate entrepreneurship in small and global firms; knowledge and innovation in multinational enterprises; and qualitative research methods. Professor McGaughey has published in an array of journals such as Academy of Management Review, Journal of Management Studies, Journal of World Business, Management International Review and Scientometrica, among others, and has a research monograph on portfolio entrepreneurship and internationalization (Edward Elgar). She is an editor of Prometheus: Critical Studies in Innovation and a member of the editorial board of Journal of World Business.