Corporate Entrepreneurship Practices and Revevnue Generation by Government Funded Universities in Kenya

The practices of corporate entrepreneurship are important for organizational survival, profitability, growth and renewal. Higher education stakeholders in Kenya are demanding universities to be more entrepreneurial in order to produce incomes from commercial exploitation of their intellectual assets. In pursuit of this realization, the government of Kenya is encouraging public universities to find ways of self-sustenance by introducing corporate entrepreneurship practice to avoid over-reliance on government support. However, the extent to which the practice has generated additional funds for universities has been established. Thus, this study was designed to measure the influence of risk taking, autonomy and innovativeness in corporate entrepreneurship practices at Meru University of Science and Technology. Using descriptive survey design and random sampling techniques, 80 managerial/supervisory level respondents were selected. The research established that front line managers/supervisors did take risks but were negatively affected by organisational internal barriers. Further, autonomy was recognized as a very important factor in management of the income generating units. The research also established that bureaucratic structures and systems of organisation hindered the growth and development of income generating units. In addition, the levels of innovativeness of frontline managers were negatively affected by lack of supportive policies, procedures and support systems in the organization. The study concludes that corporate entrepreneurship practices can be successful if the frontline managers and top management have the right attitude towards corporate entrepreneurship practices by setting up a corporate entrepreneurial culture.