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Biofuels are (Not) the Future! Legitimation Strategies of Sustainable Ventures in Complex Institutional Environments

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  • Neil A. Thompson

    (Department of Management and Organization, Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, 1081HV, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Sustainable ventures often lack legitimacy (perceived to be desirable and appropriate) because various stakeholder groups use contradictory institutions (rules and norms) to make their judgements, which leads to there being fewer resources available and higher failure rates. Using an institutional theory framework and a multi-case research design with 15 biofuel ventures operating in the Netherlands, this study asks how sustainable entrepreneurs attempt to gain legitimacy in these circumstances. Analysis reveals that the entrepreneurs use a combination of rhetorical, reconciliatory and institutional change strategies to obtain legitimacy from different stakeholder groups. These findings further our understanding of sustainable entrepreneurial behavior by revealing how and why different legitimation strategies are used in complex institutional environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Neil A. Thompson, 2018. "Biofuels are (Not) the Future! Legitimation Strategies of Sustainable Ventures in Complex Institutional Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1382-:d:143920
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Shengli Dai & Hongyan Xue & Yuan Jiang & Wei Zhang & Xin Zhang, 2018. "Sustainable Entrepreneurship Team Scale Development: A Complex Systems Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Aikaterini Argyrou & Nicolas Chevrollier & Andre Nijhof, 2023. "The versatile role of sustainable market entrepreneurs in market transformation: An intervention framework for institutional change," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 259-273, January.
    4. Neil Aaron Thompson & Roosje Eijkemans, 2018. "Why Do Sustainable Ventures Fail to Attract Management Talent?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Juan García-Álvarez de Perea & Carolina Ramírez-García & Aida Del Cubo-Molina, 2019. "Internationalization Business Models and Patterns of SMEs and MNEs: A Qualitative Multi-Case Study in the Agrifood Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-26, May.

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