Perspectives of Sustainability
Main Article Content
Elin Merethe Oftedal
Giovanna Bertella
Sanjay Lanka
Małgorzata Grzegorczyk
Petra Molthan-Hill
Abstract
Objective: the idea of this special issue is to explore in more detail how resilient, sustainable, and responsible business models could be developed. Methods: the papers selected for this special issue offer different approaches to study (a) the state of the art of this field and (b) methods and drivers for achieving the above goals. The research design used is systematic literature reviews, qualitative studies, quantitative studies, and case studies. Results: from the literature reviews, it becomes evident that the triple bottom line needs more sophisticated approaches including operationalization, analysis, discussion, or results of all the three dimensions. Further, several of the papers support recent research regarding the importance of the stakeholders. Conclusions: stakeholder participation emerges as an important research avenue for sustainable business model. Thus, the sustainable business models and the responsible research and innovation literature approach each other on this issue. Managerial implication is to focus on including and understanding its stakeholders. Political implication is to be aware of the context that businesses are operating in to create systems that make it possible to operate sustainably.
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How to Cite
Oftedal, E. M., Bertella, G., Lanka, S., Grzegorczyk, M., & Molthan-Hill, P. (2020). Perspectives of Sustainability. Journal of Contemporary Administration, 25(3), e200413. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021200413.en
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Invited Article
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References
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Bocken, N., Boons, F., & Baldassarre, B. (2019). Sustainable business model experimentation by understanding ecologies of business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 208, 1498-1512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.159
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Chesbrough, H. (2010). Business model innovation: Opportunities and barriers. Long Range Planning, 43(2-3), 354–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.010
Dean, T., & McMullen, J. S. (2007). Toward a theory of sustainable entrepreneurship: Reducing environmental degradation through entrepreneurial action. Journal of Business Venturing, 22(1), 50-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2005.09.003
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Fernandes, J. A. L., Sousa Filho, J. M. de., & Viana, F. L. E. (2021). Sustainable business models in a challenging context: The Amana Katu case. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e200205. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021200205.en
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Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. Science, 162(3859), 1243–1248. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.162.3859.1243
Hughes, M. (2011). Do 70 per cent of all organizational change initiatives really fail? Journal of Change Management, 11(4), 451-464. https://doi.org/10.1080/14697017.2011.630506
Garrity, E. J. (2012). Tragedy of the commons, business growth and the fundamental sustainability problem. Sustainability, 4(10), 2443-2471. https://doi.org/10.3390/su4102443
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Geissdoerfer, M., Vladimirova, D., & Evans, S. (2018). Sustainable business model innovation: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 198, 401-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.240
Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007
Jaber, T. (2021). A surge toward a sustainable future: Organizational change and transformational vision by an oil and gas company. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e200031. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021200031.en
Kennedy, S., & Bocken, N. (2020). Innovating business models for sustainability: An essential practice for responsible managers. In O. Laasch, R. Suddaby, R. E. Freeman, & D. Jamali (Eds.), Research Handbook of Responsible Management (Chap. 42, pp. 640-653). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.
Loviscek, V. (2021). Triple bottom line toward a holistic framework for sustainability: A systematic review. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e200017. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021200017.en
Lüdeke-Freund, F., Gold, S., & Bocken, N. (2019). A review and typology of circular economy business model patterns. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 23(1), 36-61. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12763
Montabon, F., Pagell, M., & Wu, Z. (2016). Making sustainability sustainable. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 52(2), 11-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12103
Mulloth, B. (2021). Exploring social business pathways: Green Map System as a case in point. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e190351. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021190351.en
Oftedal, E. M., Foss, L., & Iakovleva, T. (2019). Responsible for responsibility? A study of digital e-health startups. Sustainability, 11(19), 5433. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195433
Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business model generation: A handbook for visionaries, game changers and challengers. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Patel, N. (2015). 90% of startups fail: Here’s what you need to know about the 10%. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilpatel/2015/01/16/90-of-startups-will-fail-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-10/?sh=738ce3066679
Sahebalzamani, S. (2021). Driving business models toward sustainability in arctic nature tourism. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e190384. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021190384.en
Schaltegger, S., Hörisch J., & Freeman, R. (2019). Business cases for sustainability: A stakeholder theory perspective. Organization & Environment, 32(3), 191-212. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1086026617722882
Scott, W. (1995). Institutions and organizations. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Scott, W. (2013). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests and identities. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Stilgoe, J., Owen, R., & Macnaghten, P. (2013). Developing a framework for responsible innovation. Research Policy, 42(9), 1568-1580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2013.05.008
Stubbs, W., & Cocklin, C. (2008). Conceptualizing a “sustainability business model”. Organization & Environment, 21(2), 103-127. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1086026608318042
Teece, D. (2010). Business models, business strategy and innovation. Long Range Planning, 43(1-2), 172-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.003
Wei, S., Ang, T., & Jancenelle, V. E. (2018). Willingness to pay more for green products: The interplay of consumer characteristics and customer participation. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 45, 230-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2018.08.015
Wicks, A., Keevil, A. A., & Parmar, B. (2012). Sustainable business development and management theories: A mindset approach. Business and Professional Ethics Journal, 31(3-4), 375-398. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/41705492
Winnard, J., Adcroft, A., Lee, J., & Skipp, D. (2014). Surviving or flourishing? Integrating business resilience and sustainability. Journal of Strategy and Management, 7(3), 303-315. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-11-2012-0059
Adams, R., Jeanrenaud, S., Bessant, J., Denyer, D., & Overy, P. (2016). Sustainability‐oriented innovation: A systematic review. International Journal of Management Reviews, 18(2), 180-205. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12068
Agwu, U., & Bessant, J. (2020). A systematic review of approaches and challenges in manufacturing. SSRN. Retrieved from https://ssrn.com/abstract=3748697
Andreini, D., & Bettinelli, C. (2017). Business model innovation: From systematic literature review to future research directions. Cham: Springer.
Bocken, N. M., Short, S. W., Rana, P., & Evans, S. (2014). A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 65, 42-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.11.039
Bocken, N., Boons, F., & Baldassarre, B. (2019). Sustainable business model experimentation by understanding ecologies of business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 208, 1498-1512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.159
Bocken, N., Weissbrod, I., & Tennant, M. (2016). Business model experimentation for sustainability. In Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2016 (Vol. 52, pp. 297-306). (Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies; Vol. 52). Berlin: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32098-4_26
Breuer, H., Fichter, K., Lüdeke-Freund, F., & Tiemann, I. (2018). Sustainability-oriented business model development: Principles, criteria and tools. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 10(2), 256-286. Retrieved from http://www.inderscience.com/offer.php?id=92715
Chesbrough, H. (2010). Business model innovation: Opportunities and barriers. Long Range Planning, 43(2-3), 354–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.010
Dean, T., & McMullen, J. S. (2007). Toward a theory of sustainable entrepreneurship: Reducing environmental degradation through entrepreneurial action. Journal of Business Venturing, 22(1), 50-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2005.09.003
Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with Forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Mankato, MN: Capstone.
Elkington, J. (2018). 25 years ago I coined the phrase “triple bottom line.” Here’s why it’s time to rethink it. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2018/06/25-yearsago-i-coined-the-phrase-triple-bottom-line-heres-whyim-giving-up-on-it
Fernandes, J. A. L., Sousa Filho, J. M. de., & Viana, F. L. E. (2021). Sustainable business models in a challenging context: The Amana Katu case. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e200205. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021200205.en
Foss, N. J., & Saebi, T. (2017) Fifteen years of research on business model innovation: How far have we come, and where should we go? Journal of Management, 43(1), 200-227. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316675927
Freudenreich, B., Lüdeke-Freund, F., & Schaltegger, S. (2020). A stakeholder theory perspective on business models: Value creation for sustainability. Journal of Business Ethics (in press). https://doi.org/10.1080/0969160X.2020.1711334
Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. Science, 162(3859), 1243–1248. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.162.3859.1243
Hughes, M. (2011). Do 70 per cent of all organizational change initiatives really fail? Journal of Change Management, 11(4), 451-464. https://doi.org/10.1080/14697017.2011.630506
Garrity, E. J. (2012). Tragedy of the commons, business growth and the fundamental sustainability problem. Sustainability, 4(10), 2443-2471. https://doi.org/10.3390/su4102443
Geels, F. W. (2011). The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 1(1), 24-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2011.02.002
Geels, F., Sovacool, B., Schwanen, T., & Sorrell, S. (2017). The socio-technical dynamics of low-carbon transitions. Joule, 1(3), 463-479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2017.09.018
Geissdoerfer, M., Vladimirova, D., & Evans, S. (2018). Sustainable business model innovation: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 198, 401-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.240
Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007
Jaber, T. (2021). A surge toward a sustainable future: Organizational change and transformational vision by an oil and gas company. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e200031. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021200031.en
Kennedy, S., & Bocken, N. (2020). Innovating business models for sustainability: An essential practice for responsible managers. In O. Laasch, R. Suddaby, R. E. Freeman, & D. Jamali (Eds.), Research Handbook of Responsible Management (Chap. 42, pp. 640-653). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.
Loviscek, V. (2021). Triple bottom line toward a holistic framework for sustainability: A systematic review. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e200017. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021200017.en
Lüdeke-Freund, F., Gold, S., & Bocken, N. (2019). A review and typology of circular economy business model patterns. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 23(1), 36-61. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12763
Montabon, F., Pagell, M., & Wu, Z. (2016). Making sustainability sustainable. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 52(2), 11-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12103
Mulloth, B. (2021). Exploring social business pathways: Green Map System as a case in point. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e190351. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021190351.en
Oftedal, E. M., Foss, L., & Iakovleva, T. (2019). Responsible for responsibility? A study of digital e-health startups. Sustainability, 11(19), 5433. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195433
Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business model generation: A handbook for visionaries, game changers and challengers. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Patel, N. (2015). 90% of startups fail: Here’s what you need to know about the 10%. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilpatel/2015/01/16/90-of-startups-will-fail-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-10/?sh=738ce3066679
Sahebalzamani, S. (2021). Driving business models toward sustainability in arctic nature tourism. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 25(3), e190384. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2021190384.en
Schaltegger, S., Hörisch J., & Freeman, R. (2019). Business cases for sustainability: A stakeholder theory perspective. Organization & Environment, 32(3), 191-212. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1086026617722882
Scott, W. (1995). Institutions and organizations. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Scott, W. (2013). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests and identities. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Stilgoe, J., Owen, R., & Macnaghten, P. (2013). Developing a framework for responsible innovation. Research Policy, 42(9), 1568-1580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2013.05.008
Stubbs, W., & Cocklin, C. (2008). Conceptualizing a “sustainability business model”. Organization & Environment, 21(2), 103-127. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1086026608318042
Teece, D. (2010). Business models, business strategy and innovation. Long Range Planning, 43(1-2), 172-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.003
Wei, S., Ang, T., & Jancenelle, V. E. (2018). Willingness to pay more for green products: The interplay of consumer characteristics and customer participation. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 45, 230-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2018.08.015
Wicks, A., Keevil, A. A., & Parmar, B. (2012). Sustainable business development and management theories: A mindset approach. Business and Professional Ethics Journal, 31(3-4), 375-398. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/41705492
Winnard, J., Adcroft, A., Lee, J., & Skipp, D. (2014). Surviving or flourishing? Integrating business resilience and sustainability. Journal of Strategy and Management, 7(3), 303-315. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-11-2012-0059