Title: Fostering entrepreneurial competencies for business model innovation - the case of Audi Denkwerkstatt

Authors: Benedict Seiferlein; Oliver Gernsheimer; Dominik K. Kanbach

Addresses: HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG Chair of Strategic Management and Digital Entrepreneurship, Jahnallee 59, 04109 Leipzig, Germany ' HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG Chair of Strategic Management and Digital Entrepreneurship, Jahnallee 59, 04109 Leipzig, Germany ' HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG Chair of Strategic Management and Digital Entrepreneurship, Jahnallee 59, 04109 Leipzig, Germany

Abstract: Corporate incubators are a phenomenon of increasing relevance to elicit business model innovation (BMI) within large firms. They equip talented employees with entrepreneurial competencies (ECs) to identify, build, and pursue new ventures. However, their specific approach in developing ECs conducive to BMI has been understudied so far. Based on an in-depth case study at Audi Denkwerkstatt, one of Germany's most successful corporate incubators in BMI, we investigate how ECs emerge along the incubation process. Specifically, our study suggests four distinct levers facilitating EC development: 1) a dedicated team of venture developers, coaching and guiding the intrapreneurs; 2) friendly internal coopetition among the intrapreneurs, sparking positive tension and higher performance; 3) co-living, nurturing continuous creative exchange, team intimacy, and trust; 4) co-working and early partnering in the start-up ecosystem. Our findings underline the importance of corporate incubators in developing ECs to effectuate BMI in the automotive industry.

Keywords: entrepreneurial competencies; business model innovation; corporate incubator; automotive manufacturers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2022.126821

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2022 Vol.22 No.4, pp.401 - 423

Received: 20 Jul 2021
Accepted: 01 Dec 2021

Published online: 08 Nov 2022 *

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