ABSTRACT
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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
section I|56 pages
Integrative views of the EIS nexus
chapter 2|20 pages
The nexus of innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability
section II|40 pages
Corporate entrepreneurship for sustainability-improving innovation
chapter 5|19 pages
Corporate entrepreneurship and organisational innovation
section III|41 pages
EIS in mature industries
chapter 7|18 pages
Drivers for sustainability-improving innovation
section IV|65 pages
EIS in developing countries
chapter 8|20 pages
Obstacles to innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana
chapter 9|18 pages
The social sustainability of entrepreneurship
chapter 10|26 pages
Business, but not as usual
section V|37 pages
EIS in small firms
section VI|44 pages
EIS in a network perspective