Sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainability innovation: categories and interactions

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to position sustainable entrepreneurship in relation to sustainability innovation. The framework builds on a typology of sustainable entrepreneurship, develops it by including social and institutional entrepreneurship, i.e. the application of the entrepreneurial approach towards meeting societal goals and towards changing market contexts, and relates it to sustainability innovation. The framework provides a reference for managers to introduce sustainability innovation and to pursue sustainable entrepreneurship. Methodologically, the paper develops an approach of qualitative measurement of sustainable entrepreneurship and how to assess the position of a company in a classifi cation matrix. The degree of environmental or social responsibility orientation in the company is assessed on the basis of environmental and social goals and policies, the organization of environmental and social management in the company and the communication of environmental and social issues. The market impact of the company is measured on the basis of market share, sales growth and reactions of competitors. The paper fi nds conditions under which sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainability innovation emerge spontaneously. The research has implications for theory and practitioners in that it clarifi es which fi rms are most likely under specifi c conditions to make moves towards sustainability innovation. The paper makes a contribution in showing that extant research needs to be expanded with regard to motivations for innovation and that earlier models of sustainable entrepreneurship need to be refi ned.

The Role of Business in Accelerating Sustainable Development in Africa

“…Businesses have a high dependence on human and natural resources in addition to physical and financial capital (International Institute for Sustainable Development, 1992). On the other hand, Schaltegger and Wagner (2011) argued that in a market system, sustainable development requires sustainability innovation and entrepreneurs who can achieve environmental or social goals. Drucker (1985) argued that innovation is an instrument of entrepreneurship; the act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.…”

Empreendedorismo Sustentável e Stakeholders Fornecedores: Criação de Valores para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável

“…Isso pode gerar mudanças e inovação em seus processos e modelos de negócios. Além disso, novas oportunidades de negócios e novos tipos de empreendedorismo podem surgir impulsionados por esse fenômeno (Parrish, 2008(Parrish, , 2010Schaltegger & Wagner, 2011).…”

“…Observa-se, portanto, que o campo do desenvolvimento sustentável oferece a perspectiva de ampliação da ação empreendedora à medida que envolve as dimensões econômica, social e ambiental , de modo que o empreendedorismo sustentável se destaca em gerir o TBL em suas ações e valores (Schaltegger & Wagner, 2011).…”

“…Tais mudanças possibilitam soluções que reduzem o impacto ambiental e geram benefícios para a sociedade (Gerlach, 2003;Kuckertz & Wagner, 2010;Schaltegger & Wagner, 2011 negócios e estabelecem as bases para um tipo de empreendedorismo que busca obter renda e contribuir com melhores condições sociais e ambientais para a sociedade. Nesse sentido, Shepherd e Patzelt (2011) explicam que as oportunidades para realizar novos processos, bens e serviços precisam ser aproveitadas considerando os benefícios à natureza e à comunidade.…”

“…A forma como as oportunidades empreendedoras podem ser aproveitadas, associando ao aspecto econômico a solução para problemas ambientais e sociais, caracteriza o empreendedorismo sustentável (Schaltegger & Wagner, 2011;. Percebe-se, portanto, que oportunidades advindas do mercado, da comunidade ou mesmo dos próprios clientes pode ser formas de direcionar empresas rumo ao desenvolvimento sustentável (Cohen & Winn, 2007;Hockerts & Wüstenhagen, 2010).…”