Agency and positive institutional change through sustainable entrepreneurship : the case of first movers providing food loss and waste solutions

Abstract

The emergence of entrepreneurs dealing with food loss and waste (FLW) solutions, despite the low incidence of institutional pressure, has no explanation by Institutional Theory, a significant gap this thesis aimed to shed light-on. This theory struggles to conceptualize change since agents are viewed as institutionally embedded, i.e., it is assumed that institutional environments shape individuals and organizations who have a limited degree of agency. The agency versus structure is an ongoing debate (the paradox of embedded agency) that seeks to understand how actors can change institutions if their actions, intentions, and rationality all are conditioned by the very institution they wish to change. The objective of this thesis was to understand how first movers entrepreneurs exercise their agency to produce a positive social impact in the context of FLW solutions. To answer this, a qualitative study was designed and performed on seven cases of sustainable entrepreneurship in four different countries: Brazil, Canada, Denmark, and Finland. Data collection is based on observation visits, interviews with entrepreneurs, secondary data, social media posts and interviews with consumers. Content analysis of the collected data was carried out with the help of NVivo Software. The thesis contribution section discusses and analyzes the final result in combination with three papers (the so-called hybrid thesis). In addition to the theoretical discussion, a framework proposing the agency process in three levels (micro, meso and macro) is laid out. Along with a schema indicating the relationship between institutional environment and the processes proposed for the agency in institutional entrepreneurship. In general, this thesis contributes to the advancement of Institutional Theory in relation to agency versus structure ongoing debate (embedded agency paradox). Specifically, the paper-I contribute to filling the gap about the knowledge about the sustainable entrepreneurial process; paper II also contribute to filling the gap in the literature by identifying business models’ innovations in sustainable entrepreneurship, analyzing their characteristics, their mechanisms to overcome hybridity-related tensions, and providing empirical evidence about how business models can be used to create and capture multiple forms of value; and paper III illustrates the interface between sustainable entrepreneurship that addresses the FLW problem, the adopted solutions, supply chain coordination, performance improvement and the indicators of positive social change. Finally, social implications are presented, followed by propositions to stimulate sustainable entrepreneurship. Suggestions are also indicated for potential entrepreneurs and/or managers willing to develop businesses that challenge the practices established in the market.