Gifford and Elizabeth Pinchot gave the title Intrapreneur to the employee in an typical hierarchical and structured organisation who exhibits enterpreneural behaviours contributing to business success and innovation. Opening up opportunities for the exhibition of enterpreneural behaviour within a controlled, policy driven, role and procedure-based organisation is important if innovative environments are to be generated wherein "intrapreneural" activity and competences can develop and flourish.

The Pinchots examined the characteristics of

1. those who function and might be developed as intrapreneurs
2. organisations that can develop them.

To the Pinchots, potential intrapreneurs had:

• commercial insight, market and environmental awareness and understanding
• strength of character and persistence in their approach to business matters, stamina and staying power
• an innovative and creative approach to problems and an ability to manage and direct change
• capacity for analysis. organisation and control of activities
• ability to get on with people at all levels, to engage their interest and activity in performing their jobs effectively and successfully.

Organisations capable of enabling intrapreneurs to function need to:

• learn and develop more quickly than the rate of organisational change
• recognise the talents and potential of individuals harnessing these in mutually beneficial and profitable activities
• provide intrinsic and extrinsic rewards reflecting organisational wealth creation and individual capability.

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