Encouraging sustainable entrepreneurship in climate-threatened communities: a Samoan case study

Abstract

South Pacific island states are at the forefront of climatic changes that have precipitated severe environmental events. These small countries also face economic and social challenges that require entrepreneurial solutions. We develop a model of how external factors and chance events impact on sustainable opportunity recognition and exploitation in this context. We assess the efficacy of this model in an in-depth study of Women in Business Development Incorporated, a non-governmental organization that helps women and families in Samoa to establish sustainable enterprises. Our findings make a significant contribution to the emerging literature on entrepreneurship, sustainability and resilience in at-risk communities by showing how key organizational capabilities are necessary for coping with exogenous shocks in this context. The findings have important implications for research, policy and practice.

Empirical Study on Sustainable Opportunities Recognition. A Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Joinery Industry Analysis Using Augmented Sustainable Development Process Model

“…The greater entrepreneur's knowledge of the natural/communal environment, the more likely he/she will recognize a sustainable business opportunity. Gray et al [14] argue that sustainable development requires education in order to raise awareness and contribute to sustainable opportunities recognition. Sustainable development is an emerging field that focuses on future innovations, particularly long-term solutions to environmental, social and/or economic problems [4,38].…”

“…By using sustainable management principles the business is able to achieve objectives such as market competitiveness and profitability through the application of economically, socially, and environmentally responsible value systems [87], better anticipate and meet client expectations [87] and generate positive, long-run outcomes in economic, social, and environmental terms [87]. Gray et al [14] argue that including sustainable market orientation as a determinant of sustainable business opportunities is important as customers ultimately decide how valuable new product or service innovations are. Entrepreneurial orientation encompasses organizational behavioral characteristics of engaging in product-market innovation, promoting innovative behaviors, undertaking risky ventures and implementing proactive innovations [87,88].…”

“…Unfortunately, so far, existing literature has failed to systematically analyze opportunities identification, with few exceptions [14,38]. In terms of sustainable business opportunities, existing conceptual frameworks have concentrated either on environmental [30] or sustainability issues [6,27].…”

“…Gray et al envisage entrepreneurship in terms of innovative projects that address cultural, ecological and economic sustainability issues [14], all considered as entrepreneurial orientation. Entrepreneurial orientation has been the focus of systematic inquiry in the management literature [91].…”

“…Our research is based on augmented sustainability process model [14] which argue that entrepreneurs' capacity to recognize sustainable opportunities is influenced by a set of factors, among the most important being Knowledge and Motivation. We also test Social embeddedness as a moderating factor in opportunity recognition.…”