• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: The dilemma of incumbents in sustainability transitions : a narrative approach
  • Contributor: Augenstein, Karoline [Author]; Palzkill-Vorbeck, Alexandra [Author]
  • imprint: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy: Publication Server, 2016-01-04
  • Language: English
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci6010001
  • Origination:
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  • 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.
  • Access State: Open Access