Business Strategies for Transitions Towards Sustainable Systems

26 Pages Posted: 29 Jan 2008

See all articles by Gail Whiteman

Gail Whiteman

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Department of Business and Society Management

Jan Rotmans

University of Maastricht - ICIS

Date Written: 20 2007, 12

Abstract

This paper develops a strategic perspective for business to address persistent sustainability issues by contributing to the innovation of societal systems. Sustainability issues at the level of societal sectors or domains cannot be addressed by single organizations but require co-evolutionary changes in technology, economy, culture and organizational forms. We present the case of transition management in the Netherlands – an approach combining systems analysis with new modes of governance to influence the direction and speed of structural changes towards sustainability – and the activities of two firms working in this new context. From the two specific cases we conceptualize business strategies at different levels to advance sustainable development.

Keywords: sustainability, business development, transition management, systems

JEL Classification: F23, M14, M, Q01

Suggested Citation

Whiteman, Gail and Rotmans, Jan, Business Strategies for Transitions Towards Sustainable Systems (20 2007, 12). ERIM Report Series Reference No. ERS-2007-094-ORG, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1088218

Gail Whiteman

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Department of Business and Society Management ( email )

RSM Erasmus University
3000 DR Rotterdam
Netherlands

Jan Rotmans

University of Maastricht - ICIS ( email )

P.O. Box 616
Maastricht, Limburg 6200MD
Netherlands

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
277
Abstract Views
1,479
Rank
213,321
PlumX Metrics