Making sense of ecopreneurs' decisions to sell up

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aut.researcherKearins, Kathryn Noreen
dc.contributor.authorKearins, KN
dc.contributor.authorCollins, E
dc.date.accessioned2011-08-22T01:44:48Z
dc.date.available2011-08-22T01:44:48Z
dc.date.copyright2011
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractThis article examines the phenomenon of values-based firms being sold to larger mainstream firms. Its focus is on the sensemaking rationale offered by a New Zealand ecopreneur who sold an organic beverage company after 20 years at the helm. The company case study is presented through two enterprise development narratives based on alternative sensemaking modes. Key values-related challenges arising in ecopreneurial business are identified, including (1) adhering to the founder's values, (2) growing the business sustainably, (3) deciding whether and when to expand ownership to cope with undercapitalization, (4) deciding who to bring in as new owners to ensure values alignment, (5) determining how and when the founder might leave and (6) ensuring the attractiveness of the sustainability values so that they might be retained. Other factors implicated in the sale of values-based firms are also postulated. It is argued that, although ecopreneurs might be accused of selling out their principles by selling up, there is some evidence that eco-brands are being maintained and that growth prospects could be improved after acquisition. Serial ecopreneurship may even extend social benefits.
dc.identifier.citationBusiness Strategy and the Environment. doi: 10.1002/bse.710
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/bse.710
dc.identifier.issn1099-0836
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/1777
dc.publisherJohn Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
dc.relation.urihttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bse.710/abstract
dc.rightsCopyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved. Authors retain the right to place his/her pre-publication version of the work on a personal website or institutional repository. This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in (please see citation) as it is not a copy of this record. An electronic version of this article can be found online at: (Please see Publisher’s Version)
dc.rights.accessrightsOpenAccess
dc.subjectEcopreneurship
dc.subjectEnterprise development
dc.subjectSensemaking
dc.titleMaking sense of ecopreneurs' decisions to sell up
dc.typeJournal Article
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