5. Coping with cost-cutting programs

Companies regularly implement various cost-cutting programs, whether in SG&A or R&D spending. What should be the attitude towards exploration teams in such a situation?

Once again, it's a question of acting on the principle of acceptable losses. If your company feels that the level of its losses needs to be lowered, then you need to adjust your budget. The first step is to draw on your reserves. Imposing a similar budget cut on every intrapreneurial team would run counter to accountability.

But should they be completely protected? Certainly not, but a different approach can help to maintain a sense of belonging while at the same time contributing to the efforts required. For example, we could explain the situation to the incubation teams, explain the constraints imposed on "classic" organizations and then let them propose their own...