USING INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL LEAN LEADERS AND CONTRIBUTORS AMONG AN ORGANISATIONS WORKFORCE

Continuous improvement programmes such as Lean are gaining popularity in organisations because of the resultant benefits to the organisation and its stakeholders. Employees as stakeholders play an important part in the success of the organisation and area key participant in any Continuous Improvement (CI) programme. CI is an employee driven activity that requires leadership, problem-solving and teamwork skills. Practice encourages that recruitment of these individual participants be conducted from within the organisations own ranks. Entrepreneurship when practiced within an organisation is known as Intrapreneurship. These entrepreneurial individuals possess personal characteristics that may be matched to, or adaptable to the requirements of CI programmes. This research indicates that the entrepreneur is an individual, is distinct from non-entrepreneurs and can be characterised by individual differences. The research questions sought to establish if potential entrepreneurs can be identified among the student body and to measure individual innovation and entrepreneurial self-confidence. Literature suggests that individuals suited to participating in CI programmes share personal characteristics with individuals suited to intrapreneurship. The survey tool used in this research may be adapted and used in the workplace. It may assist organisations with the identification of employees suited to lead or participate in a planned CI programme.