Symbiotic Mutualism: Entrepreneurship as value co-creation

Ashwin Goutham Gopi, Bertha Jimenez, Bharat Rao

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

In this paper, we present the emergence of a new phenomenon in which entrepreneurs consider sustainability and mutual benefit as the foundation of their new venture. Competition is no longer a tacit assumption. We draw upon the literature of industrial and organizational ecology to term this strategy "Symbiotic Mutualism". Here, "symbiotic" refers to the ability of an organization to co-exist across multiple industrial boundaries; "mutualism" signifies the co-creation of value for all stakeholders involved. Our paper aims to unveil the mechanisms by which a new venture operates under this new logic. This study is based on a green startup that converts the waste of one industry into the raw material of another, without owning any equipment. By changing their perspective, they are able to span industrial and organizational boundaries. They are thus capable of unlocking and leveraging potential resources that would otherwise have been lost. We argue that this phenomenon is part of a larger cultural shift in how businesses view resources. The increasing focus on resource conservation and environmental impact influences their organizational practices and strategy. Furthermore, the emergence of the sharing economy has changed entrepreneurs' notions of occupation, consumption, and the ownership and access to durable goods.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPICMET 2017 - Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology
Subtitle of host publicationTechnology Management for the Interconnected World, Proceedings
EditorsTimothy R. Anderson, Kiyoshi Niwa, Dundar F. Kocaoglu, Tugrul U. Daim, Dilek Cetindamar Kozanoglu, Gary Perman, Harm-Jan Steenhuis
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages1-8
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781890843366
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 29 2017
Event2017 Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, PICMET 2017 - Portland, United States
Duration: Jul 9 2017Jul 13 2017

Publication series

NamePICMET 2017 - Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology: Technology Management for the Interconnected World, Proceedings
Volume2017-January

Other

Other2017 Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, PICMET 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPortland
Period7/9/177/13/17

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Law
  • Management of Technology and Innovation
  • Strategy and Management
  • Decision Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Management Science and Operations Research
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Education

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