The Dilemma of Incumbents in Sustainability Transitions: A Narrative Approach
In the context of the larger sustainability discourse, “sufficiency” is beginning to emerge as a new value throughout Western societies, and the question asked in this article is: Can we observe and conceptually identify opportunities to link successful business strategies of incumbents to principle...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Administrative Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/6/1/1 |
| _version_ | 1818591618226192384 |
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| author | Karoline Augenstein Alexandra Palzkill |
| author_facet | Karoline Augenstein Alexandra Palzkill |
| author_sort | Karoline Augenstein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the context of the larger sustainability discourse, “sufficiency” is beginning to emerge as a new value throughout Western societies, and the question asked in this article is: Can we observe and conceptually identify opportunities to link successful business strategies of incumbents to principles of sufficiency? Thus, how feasible is sustainable entrepreneurship for incumbents? In this paper, a conceptual approach is developed combining insights from sociology, transition research, management and sustainable entrepreneurship research with a focus on narratives as a translation mechanism in situations where tensions emerge between corporate narratives and unexpected societal trends, e.g., the emergence of sufficient lifestyles. It will be shown that even though these are still a niche phenomenon, a focus on corporate narratives is an important element in understanding the role of incumbents in transitions to sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T10:15:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06f5d447e37f42d395006c280fc2f233 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3387 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T10:15:18Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Administrative Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-06f5d447e37f42d395006c280fc2f2332022-12-21T22:35:28ZengMDPI AGAdministrative Sciences2076-33872015-12-0161110.3390/admsci6010001admsci6010001The Dilemma of Incumbents in Sustainability Transitions: A Narrative ApproachKaroline Augenstein0Alexandra Palzkill1Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy, Döppersberg 19, Wuppertal 42103, GermanyWuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy, Döppersberg 19, Wuppertal 42103, GermanyIn the context of the larger sustainability discourse, “sufficiency” is beginning to emerge as a new value throughout Western societies, and the question asked in this article is: Can we observe and conceptually identify opportunities to link successful business strategies of incumbents to principles of sufficiency? Thus, how feasible is sustainable entrepreneurship for incumbents? In this paper, a conceptual approach is developed combining insights from sociology, transition research, management and sustainable entrepreneurship research with a focus on narratives as a translation mechanism in situations where tensions emerge between corporate narratives and unexpected societal trends, e.g., the emergence of sufficient lifestyles. It will be shown that even though these are still a niche phenomenon, a focus on corporate narratives is an important element in understanding the role of incumbents in transitions to sustainability.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/6/1/1incumbents and sufficiencycorporate narrativesdilemma managementsustainability transitions |
| spellingShingle | Karoline Augenstein Alexandra Palzkill The Dilemma of Incumbents in Sustainability Transitions: A Narrative Approach Administrative Sciences incumbents and sufficiency corporate narratives dilemma management sustainability transitions |
| title | The Dilemma of Incumbents in Sustainability Transitions: A Narrative Approach |
| title_full | The Dilemma of Incumbents in Sustainability Transitions: A Narrative Approach |
| title_fullStr | The Dilemma of Incumbents in Sustainability Transitions: A Narrative Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Dilemma of Incumbents in Sustainability Transitions: A Narrative Approach |
| title_short | The Dilemma of Incumbents in Sustainability Transitions: A Narrative Approach |
| title_sort | dilemma of incumbents in sustainability transitions a narrative approach |
| topic | incumbents and sufficiency corporate narratives dilemma management sustainability transitions |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/6/1/1 |
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