Sustainable Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Systemic Environmental Change
Sustainable entrepreneurship can drive significant shifts towards sustainability by challenging existing systems and introducing innovative solutions.
Administrative Sciences · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Sustainable entrepreneurship can act as a niche innovator, challenging dominant unsustainable regimes.
- 02The multi-level perspective provides a useful framework for understanding how entrepreneurial actions at the niche level can influence landscape and regime dynamics towards sustainability.
- 03Both growth-oriented and degrowth-oriented approaches within sustainable entrepreneurship have roles to play in different contexts of sustainability transitions.
Application
Design takeaway
Integrate principles of sustainable entrepreneurship into design processes to foster innovations that contribute to systemic environmental improvements.
How to apply
When developing new products or services, consider how they can disrupt existing unsustainable practices and contribute to a broader shift towards sustainability, potentially by partnering with or learning from sustainable ventures.
Project actions
- 01Consider the broader impact of your design beyond its immediate function.
- 02Research existing sustainable businesses or initiatives in your chosen design area.
- 03Think about how your design could challenge current unsustainable practices.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a conceptual framework (MLP) to connect disparate research streams.
- +Offers a nuanced view on the role of entrepreneurship in sustainability.
Limitations
It can be challenging to accurately predict or measure the systemic impact of a single entrepreneurial venture or design.
Reliability & validity
As a conceptual synthesis, reliability and validity are assessed based on the coherence of the arguments and the thoroughness of the literature review, rather than empirical data.
Think critically
To what extent can individual sustainable entrepreneurial efforts truly lead to systemic change, or are they primarily dependent on supportive policy and broader socio-economic shifts?
Design Principles
"Design for systemic sustainability transitions by supporting niche innovations that challenge dominant unsustainable regimes."
Understanding the role of sustainable entrepreneurship is crucial for designers and engineers aiming to create products and services that not only meet user needs but also contribute to broader environmental goals. It highlights the potential for entrepreneurial ventures to disrupt unsustainable practices and foster systemic transitions.
What This Means for Your Design
People who start businesses focused on being good for the environment can help make big changes in how society works, moving us towards a more sustainable future.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this paper when discussing the potential for your design to contribute to larger sustainability goals or disrupt existing unsustainable systems.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2015). The Role of Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Sustainability Transitions: A Conceptual Synthesis against the Background of the Multi-Level Perspective. Administrative Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci5040286 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/f60e0b22-22a1-477e-a067-921cfcb1d645/sustainable-entrepreneurship-as-a-catalyst-for-systemic-environmental-change
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the critical role of sustainable entrepreneurship in driving systemic sustainability transitions. By acting as niche innovators, sustainable ventures can challenge dominant unsustainable regimes and foster broader societal shifts. This perspective is vital for design projects aiming to contribute meaningfully to environmental goals, suggesting that innovations should be conceived not only for immediate utility but also for their potential to disrupt existing practices and support a move towards a more sustainable future.
Source
Administrative Sciences
The Role of Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Sustainability Transitions: A Conceptual Synthesis against the Background of the Multi-Level Perspective
journal · 2015
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about sustainable entrepreneurship as a catalyst for systemic environmental change?
- Integrate principles of sustainable entrepreneurship into design processes to foster innovations that contribute to systemic environmental improvements. Evidence: Administrative Sciences (2015).
- Why does "Sustainable Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Systemic Environmental Change" matter for design?
- Understanding the role of sustainable entrepreneurship is crucial for designers and engineers aiming to create products and services that not only meet user needs but also contribute to broader environmental goals. It highlights the potential for entrepreneurial ventures to disrupt unsustainable practices and foster systemic transitions.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Integrate principles of sustainable entrepreneurship into design processes to foster innovations that contribute to systemic environmental improvements.
- What were the main findings?
- Sustainable entrepreneurship can act as a niche innovator, challenging dominant unsustainable regimes.. The multi-level perspective provides a useful framework for understanding how entrepreneurial actions at the niche level can influence landscape and regime dynamics towards sustainability.. Both growth-oriented and degrowth-oriented approaches within sustainable entrepreneurship have roles to play in different contexts of sustainability transitions.
- What research method was used?
- Conceptual Synthesis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from Administrative Sciences.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing new products or services, consider how they can disrupt existing unsustainable practices and contribute to a broader shift towards sustainability, potentially by partnering with or learning from sustainable ventures.
- What are the limitations?
- The conceptual nature of the synthesis may not fully capture the practical complexities and challenges faced by sustainable entrepreneurs in diverse real-world contexts.
- Is there evidence that sustainable entrepreneurship affects design outcomes?
- Sustainable entrepreneurs can be key agents in shifting towards more sustainable systems by introducing novel ideas and practices, and their impact can be understood by examining how they interact with broader societal and technological trends. Understanding the role of sustainable entrepreneurship is crucial for desig Source: Administrative Sciences (2015).
- Where does this systemic environmental research apply?
- Socio-technical systems and sustainability transitions It sits within sustainability research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
sustainable entrepreneurship design research · evidence on sustainable entrepreneurship · does sustainable entrepreneurship improve design outcomes · systemic environmental studies for designers · sustainable entrepreneurship and systemic environmental findings · sustainability research evidence