The utilisation of technology in entrepreneurial organisations

Abstract

Over the past twenty years technology has advanced at a rapid pace, but this advancement has also coincided with a major, world-wide focus on entrepreneurial activity. A study was therefore launched to investigate the interrelationship between entrepreneurial activity and technology utilisation in major organisations. An organisational learning component was added to the entrepreneurial intensity construct, based on the results obtained from a literature study. A generalised technology blueprint was also developed for the entrepreneurial organisation of the 21 st century. This blueprint was used as the foundation for the definition of the technology intensity construct that describes the degree to which technology is being made available and is being utilised to support organisational entrepreneurship. An empirical study was subsequently launched to determine if a statistically significant correlation exists between entrepreneurial intensity and technology intensity within major South African organisations. The study revealed that a significant correlation exists between entrepreneurial intensity and technology intensity for the sample of South African organisations. A significant correlation between entrepreneurial intensity and organisational learning was also established, confirming the significance of organisational learning as a major business process in the entrepreneurial organisation of the future.