Corporate sustainability: a focus on entrepreneurship, collaboration and regulation in the South African healthcare industry

Abstract

The global business landscape is characterised by uncertainty that has compelled firms to look beyond traditional models of management, which are under scrutiny in terms of sustainability. Researchers have advocated entrepreneurship as a means for firms to transform themselves into flexible, more responsive units that provide enhanced services through ongoing innovation. The context and survey population for this study is the South African healthcare sector. Hypotheses are formulated to show how different variables operate through different pathways to increase overall sustainable corporate entrepreneurship activity. Instruments are first subject to validity and reliability testing, and hypotheses are tested statistically using correlational analysis, path analysis and multiple regression analysis. Results support a positive relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and sustainable corporate entrepreneurship in terms of increased internal corporate venturing (ICV), strategic entrepreneurship, and competitive capability. Moreover, the results indicate this relationship is influenced by alliances and moderated by strategic regulatory factors.