An ecopreneur’s growing resilience after a series of earthquakes
- 13 March 2017
- journal article
- case report
- Published by Emerald in Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy
- Vol. 11 (1), 129-148
- https://doi.org/10.1108/jec-12-2014-0028
Abstract
Purpose This paper aims to examine the experiences of an ecopreneurial venture that was operating before, during and after the 2010-2011 series of earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand. The aim is to elucidate on the tension existing between an ecopreneur’s personal green values/ethics and his need to be resilient and do what was necessary to ensure his business’s survival, which was operating before, during and after an extreme event – the 2010-2011 series of earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand. Design/methodology/approach The data are gathered from a longitudinal case study of Just Organic Ltd (an organic fruit and vegetable delivery service) over a five-year period which covers time before and after the earthquakes. Data were gathered via two in-depth face-to-face interviews with the ecopreneur, along with a number of email and telephone follow-ups. Findings Findings indicate that an extreme event such as an earthquake will inhibit the green values of an ecopreneur as the ecopreneur works to ensure business survival. To continue to operate successfully, the ecopreneur developed a resilient and hardy nature and adapted operational processes to run in a more entrepreneurial fashion. It would seem that holding firmly to green values irrespective of a changed business environment is detrimental to business viability and survivability. The ecopreneur bounced forward, rather than bouncing back from the disaster. Research limitations/implications The implications for research, policy makers and ecopreneurs and entrepreneurs in general are discussed. There are lessons to be learned from the experiences of the ecopreneur who is operating Just Organic Limited. Originality/value This paper is one of the few that has examined the impact the Christchurch earthquakes had on an existing eco-business. The longitudinal data enable a unique insight into the operational aspects of an eco-business before and after a series of earthquakes.Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- Danger Zone Entrepreneurs: The Importance of Resilience and Self–Efficacy for Entrepreneurial IntentionsEntrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 2014
- Making Sense of Ecopreneurs' Decisions to Sell UpBusiness Strategy and the Environment, 2011
- Where are they now? tracking the longitudinal evolution of environmental businesses from the 1990sBusiness Strategy and the Environment, 2010
- Beyond Corporate Environmental Management to a Consideration of Nature in Visionary Small EnterpriseBusiness & Society, 2010
- Sustainable entrepreneurship in SMEs: a case study analysisCorporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 2010
- Ecopreneurship – a new approach to managing the triple bottom lineJournal of Organizational Change Management, 2007
- Resilience Under Military Operational Stress: Can Leaders Influence Hardiness?Military Psychology, 2006
- Social cognitive theory of posttraumatic recovery: the role of perceived self-efficacyBehaviour Research and Therapy, 2004
- What good are positive emotions in crisis? A prospective study of resilience and emotions following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2003
- Grassroots ecopreneurs: change agents for a sustainable societyJournal of Organizational Change Management, 1998