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Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Age of Digital Transformation

Author

Listed:
  • Hamed Vares
  • Mohammad Kargar Shouraki
  • Naji Yazdi

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is widely recognized as a driver of innovation and economic growth, supported by nations globally. It is an efficient and effective activity leveraging available resources, driven by creativity and innovation, to achieve specific business outcomes. This involves producing and offering new and innovative products and services, aligning with market needs, while embracing risk and flexibility. However, the concepts of entrepreneurship have undergone significant changes in recent years. The world has been grappling with major environmental and social challenges over the past few decades. Despite technical, economic, and social advancements, these challenges persist and continue to have destructive impacts over time. Can entrepreneurship help address these grand challenges? Traditionally, entrepreneurship has been studied as a mechanism to stimulate economic development and create financial value. However, growing awareness of global social and environmental challenges has led many scholars to reconsider entrepreneurship, viewing it not merely as a profit-generating activity but as an effort that should also incorporate elements fostering social and environmental development. Accordingly, traditional entrepreneurship, focusing solely on economic profitability, is increasingly evolving into sustainable entrepreneurship, aiming to tackle social and environmental challenges in the digital age. The analysis of the role of sustainability in the digital age on new entrepreneurship is a significant topic that requires a more detailed and profound examination. This research has been conducted using a systematic review methodology. Initially, relevant articles were selected from four reputable databases- Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and MPDI, using the keywords “sustainable entrepreneurship” and “digital entrepreneurship.” After several screening stages, including reviewing titles, abstracts, and content, a total of 42 articles from reputable journals ranked Q1 and Q2 were chosen as the final selected papers. Upon thorough examination of these articles, new entrepreneurship based on sustainability in the digital age was described. The conclusion drawn is that in new entrepreneurship, in addition to the economic sustainability emphasized in traditional entrepreneurship, it is essential to focus on two important aspects- environmental sustainability and social sustainability. Furthermore, it is suggested that digital transformation technologies should be utilized to accelerate the implementation of these sustainability aspects.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamed Vares & Mohammad Kargar Shouraki & Naji Yazdi, 2024. "Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Age of Digital Transformation," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(2), pages 155-155, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:jmsjnl:v:14:y:2024:i:2:p:155
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guangping Xu & Guangyuan Hou & Jinshan Zhang, 2022. "Digital Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Digital Capability Perspective through Digital Innovation Orientation for Social and Environmental Value Creation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.
    2. Gedas Baranauskas & Agota Giedrė Raišienė, 2022. "Transition to Digital Entrepreneurship with a Quest of Sustainability: Development of a New Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Felicia Constantin & Androniki Kavoura, 2022. "Digital Entrepreneurship via Sustainable Online Communication of Dentistry Profession, Oradea, Romania: A Longitudinal Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Avelar, Sónia & Borges-Tiago, Teresa & Almeida, António & Tiago, Flávio, 2024. "Confluence of sustainable entrepreneurship, innovation, and digitalization in SMEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    5. Liliya Satalkina & Gerald Steiner, 2020. "Digital Entrepreneurship and its Role in Innovation Systems: A Systematic Literature Review as a Basis for Future Research Avenues for Sustainable Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-27, April.
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    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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