Abstract
The present research proposes a theoretical framework for a thrivable entrepreneurial ecosystem in which thrivability is a novel entrepreneurship approach that embeds a comprehensive view in which sustainability is ‘the way to walk’ rather than the goal to reach. A thrivable entrepreneurial ecosystem aims to create prosperity through ecosystem resource (re)generation and transformation to define long-term economic goals. The framework is applied here to address the grand challenge of sustainable development in wineries. A local wine ecosystem in Italy is employed as a case study supported by mix-method-based, in-depth data collection (survey and interview). Results from the study support the idea that organizations can collaborate in a thrivable entrepreneurial ecosystem as a unique entity respectful of nature, driving economic viability of both firms and territories by improving quality of life, and caring for natural resources and local communities. This novel entrepreneurial approach may represent a turning point for facing increasingly grand business challenges.
Highlights
The concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems has recently gained momentum in business studies and practice (Isenberg, 2010, 2011; Malecki, 2011; Spigel, 2017)
This study proposes a framework based on the seminal literature on sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems and sustainable entrepreneurship (Kraus et al, 2018; Schaltegger & Wagner, 2011; Volkmann et al, 2021)
Perceptions around sustainability were generally important to wineries in Canavese: 59% considered these perceptions very important and 28%, quite important
Summary
The concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems has recently gained momentum in business studies and practice (Isenberg, 2010, 2011; Malecki, 2011; Spigel, 2017). The systemic approach of ecosystems allows for a more comprehensive consideration of entrepreneurship by considering the activities of several actors as well as their interrelationships with a variety of contextual factors. These factors are increasingly influenced by exogenous grand societal challenges such as poverty, climate change and demographic imbalances (George et al, 2016). Declarations, charters and the United Nations (UN) 2030 agenda (UN, 2015) underline the need for a depth and radical change in entrepreneurship to act against the effects of human impacts that have created a new era termed the Anthropocene (Bebbington et al, 2019)
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