Intrapreneurship Success

Case Study of PR1ME Computer Inc. and PR1ME Leasing Division

By Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D. is Professional Keynote Speaker, Published Intrapreneurship Book Author, the Leading Expert and Thought Leader on Intrapreneurship, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship Program Creation, Using Intrapreneurship programs as a strategic tool for Recruiting and Retaining Key Employees, and Using Intrapreneurship to Increase Innovation and Foster Creativity.

Note: Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D., was Co-Founder of PR1ME Computer Inc.’s PR1ME Leasing Division

Case Study of PR1ME Computer Intrapreneurship Success

The underlying concepts and ideas of Intrapreneuring or intrapreneurship have been present in many corporations in the United States, and around the world, for many decades, even before the term was actively used in the mid 1980′s. In 1982, Howard Edward Haller (now Dr. Haller) wrote his University Master’s Degree in Management Thesis, as a detailed inside case study from the view of an intrapreneur, and co-founder, on “The Marketing and Financial Impact of the Intrapreneurial Creation of the Captive Finance Division of a Rapidly Growing Publically Traded Company” and was published in 1982 by the University. As interesting note on the importance of Haller’s academic research into intrapreneurship and his detailed case study of PR1ME Computer Inc.- Dr. Howard Edward Haller’s 1982 published intrapreneurship academic research and case study is cited in Wikipedia.com’s definition of Intrapreneurship.

Dr. Haller’s Master’s thesis was also later published as a book entitled “Intrapreneurship Success: A PRIME Example.” This academic and real world research gave an inside look at intrapreneurship in action. Haller’s research was the first hand detailed story and academic case study of Intrapreneurship or Corporate Entrepreneurship. PR1ME Computer Inc. in the late 1970′s and early 1980′s, during the time PR1ME grew from just $22 million in annual sales to $480 million in annual sales in just 4 years. Intrapreneurship was one of the key driving elements of PR1ME’s success.

Steve Jobs, Apples’ then Chairman, used the word, or term, “Intrapreneurship” in his September 1985 “Newsweek” article: “The Macintosh team was what is commonly known as intrapreneurship – only a few years before the term was coined – “a group of people going, in essence, back to the garage, but in a large company.” In early 1985, TIME Magazine published an article entitled “Here Come the Intrapreneurs” which detailed a number of intrapreneurial successes. Later in 1985, in researcher Pinchot used the term “Intrapreneuring” in the title of his book on the topic.

There are now many more examples of successful Intrapreneurship in corporations since this pioneering intrapreneurial adventure by a small computer company in the late 1970′s. This article shares an overview of the creation of PRIME Leasing Division, an intrapreneurial venture within the rapidly growing public corporation.

The summary overview of the details the case study of the financial and marketing impact of the Intrapreneurial creation of the captive leasing and finance subsidiary, PR1ME™ Leasing will be shared in this article of Intrapreneurship Success. This intrapreneurial endeavor materially helped grow PR1ME™ Computer, Inc. which was in 1977 just an OTC listed “super-mini” computer company, This principally quantitative research academic (yet “real world”) case study documents the intrapreneurial effort to create PR1ME Leasing. PR1ME Leasing helped to shorten the “super-minicomputer” sales cycle, increase profits on individual computer sales transactions, increase sales overall, increased cash flow, and provided significant tax shelters to its parent corporation. PR1ME Leasing helped its parent company to grow more rapidly and profitably. PR1ME Computer Inc. was able go from the OTC and NYSE (“Big Board”) in a short time. The intrapreneurial venture of PR1ME Leasing was one of the key accelerators boosting its parent company, PRIME, to become the Number 1 performing NYSE listed stock in 1980.

One of the major challenges was that the Leasing Division was under the direct control of the Vice President of Finance of PRIME Computer, Inc., not the Vice President of Sales or Marketing. Having the commission-driven PR1ME Leasing marketing managers working under the finance department, which was staffed by accountants and financial analysts created a philosophical paradox. This case study by one of the co-founding managers of PR1ME Leasing is a “real world” example of an intrapreneurial venture in its embryonic state. It details the most salient positive and negative aspects of PR1ME Leasing’s early growth.

This article tells the inside story of the intrapreneurial creation of PR1ME Leasing, its corporate structure, and quantitatively and statistically documents the significant positive impact of the Leasing Division on the sales, shortening the sales cycle, increased profits, major tax benefits, improved cash flow, and the overall corporate financial performance its parent company, PR1ME Computer Inc.

This article’s author, Howard Edward Haller, was a co-founder of Prime Leasing Division, within the parent corporation PR1ME Computer Inc.

Dr. Haller successfully used his five years building the Intrapreneurial entity within PRIME and the results of his comprehensive research as valuable tools after leaving the company to Create and Found other successful Intrapreneurial ventures for Anaconda-Ericsson Inc., Corona Data Inc., as well as several successful Entrepreneurial ventures including co-founding, build, taking public, and then selling a technology firm, such as RETIX.

Contact info for Dr. Howard Haller and the Intrapreneurship Institute:

To book Dr. Howard Edward Haller to deliver a custom Keynote Speech or insightful Executive Briefing on Intrapreneurship, Intrapreneurship Program Creation or Increasing Innovation, Creativity or Product Creation:

Please call Dr. Haller directly at: 509 465-9300,

or email: DrHaller@IntrapreneurshipInstitute.com

or visit the Contact Section on our website: Contact Dr. Haller and The Intrapreneurship Institute

Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D. is Professional Keynote Speaker on Intrapreneurship, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship Program Creation, Using Intrapreneurship programs as a strategic tool for Recruiting and Retaining Key Employees, and Using Intrapreneurship to Increase Innovation and Foster Creativity.

Dr. Howard Edward Haller is a “street smart” serial Intrapreneur and Entrepreneur, and is the Leading Expert and Thought Leader on Intrapreneurship, Intrapreneurship Program Creation, Intrapreneurship Program Implementation & Operation, and Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Haller is also a University Graduate Business School Professor, major University Trustee (Emeritus), and past University Board President, as well as a seasoned Senior Corporate Executive of major public and private companies. Haller was the Founder and Managing Director of Anaconda-Ericsson Finance and Leasing Inc.(for Anaconda-Ericsson Inc., the ARCO & LM Ericsson Joint Venture) Dr. Haller was Senior Vice President of United Artist/Tele-Communications Inc., where he managed assets in excess of $4 Billion.

Howard Edward Haller’s groundbreaking 1982 University published academic research on intrapreneurship is cited by Wikipedia.org in their “History of Intrapreneurship” entry. In addition, Dr. Haller’s 2009 published intrapreneurship book “Intrapreneurship Success: A PR1ME Example” is also cited by Wikipedia.org in their “History of Intrapreneurship.”

Book Dr. Howard Edward Haller to speak or consult with your entire firm or your senior executive on Intrapreneurship, Corporate Entrepreneurship , Intrapreneurship Program Creation or Increasing Innovation with your company.