This book addresses the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability (EIS), presenting high-quality research illuminating the relationship between the three fields. The EIS nexus is particularly relevant from a European point of view given the focus of the European Commission on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, as well as their prominent role within the European Union in general. Also, the rapid economic growth witnessed especially in the BRIC countries in recent years requires that firms reconcile sustainability aspects with profitability and innovation, and entrepreneurs are seen as key diffusers of these aims. Sustainability requires both radical and incremental innovation at many different levels (technology, product, process, system). In many cases, such innovations come from small and medium-sized enterprises and so the role of the entrepreneur is key to their success.
The book is split into six sections. The first section examines the nexus in detail focusing on system-oriented connectivity between sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship. The second section looks at how to nurture corporate entrepreneurship for sustainability; and the third considers "mature" industries such as automotives, chemicals and electronics and how sustainability aspects can be integrated into innovation process and strategy. The fourth section examines the nexus through the lens of developing countries in Africa. Sustainable entrepreneurship is identified as a hugely beneficial way to foster development. The fifth section of the book concentrates on SMEs; and finally the EIS nexus is approached from a network perspective and focuses on inter-organisational partnerships, which are often an important facilitator or spark for EIS initiatives.This book will prove to be essential for researchers in the EIS nexus and be of invaluable help to practitioners, governments and inter-governmental bodies attempting to encourage sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation.
This book addresses the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability (EIS), presenting high-quality research illuminating the relationship between the three fields.
ForewordSusan E. Jackson, Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University,
USA; Past President, Academy of Management1. Entrepreneurship, innovation and
sustainability: an introduction and overviewMarcus Wagner,
Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, GermanySection I: Integrative
views of the EIS nexus2. The nexus of innovation, entrepreneurship and
sustainability: Making the case for a multi-level approachRomano Dyerson and
Lutz Preuss, Royal Holloway University of London, UK3. Implementation of
sustainable innovations and business modelsElli Verhulst, Artesis University
College Antwerp, Belgium; Norwegian University of Science and Technology,
NorwayIvo Dewit, Artesis University College Antwerp, BelgiumCasper Boks,
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NorwaySection II: Corporate
entrepreneurship for sustainability-improving innovation4. Creating a culture
of sustainability in entrepreneurial enterprisesTimothy J. Galpin, Colorado
Mesa University, USA; J. Lee Whittington, University of Dallas, USA5.
Corporate entrepreneurship and organisational innovation: the case of
environmental management system implementationMarcus Wagner,
Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, GermanySection III: EIS in mature
industries6. The role of government in shifting firm innovation focus in the
automobile industryPreeta M. Banerjee and Micaela Preskill, Brandeis
University, USA7. Drivers for sustainability-improving innovation: a
qualitative analysis of renewable resources, industrial products and travel
servicesPatrick Llerena, BETA, Université de Strasbourg, FranceMarcus Wagner,
Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, GermanySection IV: EIS in
developing countries8. Obstacles to innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana:
An analysis of opportunities for sustainable developmentChristopher
Mensah-Bonsu and Florian Jell, Technical University Munich, Germany9. The
social sustainability of entrepreneurship: An ethnographic study of
entrepreneurial balancing of plural logicsToke Bjerregaard and Jakob Lauring,
University of Aarhus, Denmark10. Business, but not as usual: entrepreneurship
and sustainable development in low-income economiesBoukje Vastbinder, Otto
Kroesen, Esther Blom and Roland Ortt, Delft University of Technology,
NetherlandsSection V: EIS in small firms11. Corporate social responsibility
in the relationships between large retailers and Italian small and medium
food suppliersFabio Musso, University of Urbino, ItalyMario Risso, University
of Rome, Italy12. Market demand, eco-products and entrepreneurship in the
"natural cosmetics sector" in GreeceIoannis N. Katsikis, Athens University of
Economics and Business, GreeceSection VI: EIS in a network perspective13.
Publicly mediated inter-organisational networks: A solution for
sustainability-oriented innovation in SMEs?Erik G. Hansen and Johanna
Klewitz, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany14. Sustainability-improving
innovation: empirical insights and relationships with sustainability-oriented
entrepreneurshipMarcus Wagner and Eva-Maria Lutz,
Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Germany
