Title: Adoption of sustainable business practices by entrepreneurs: modelling the drivers

Authors: Shilpa Sindhu; Shweta Dahiya; Parveen Siwach; Anupama Panghal

Addresses: School of Management, The North Cap University, Sector 23-A, Gurugram, India ' Department of Food Business Management and Entrepreneurship Development (FBM&ED), National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Plot No. 97, Sector-56, HSIIDC, Kundli, Sonipat, India ' Department of Food Business Management and Entrepreneurship Development (FBM&ED), National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Plot No. 97, Sector-56, HSIIDC, Kundli, Sonipat, India ' Department of Food Business Management and Entrepreneurship Development (FBM&ED), National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Plot No. 97, Sector-56, HSIIDC, Kundli, Sonipat, India

Abstract: Sustainability in business involves all such processes which take into consideration immediate economic gains for the organisation as well as resource-saving for future generations. Entrepreneurs are considered as one of the pioneers in carrying out innovative initiatives in the field of sustainability. This study is an effort towards mapping the drivers for the adoption of sustainable practices by entrepreneurs. Significant variables which drive entrepreneurs to adopt sustainable business practices were identified through literature screening; structured questionnaire based primary data collection and expert opinion. Nine variables were identified through this three-step approach which were then modelled through interpretive structural modelling (ISM). The proposed ISM model indicates that 'public funding in promoting sustainable business' is the variable which can strategically influence the linkage variables and the dependent variable viz. 'attitude of entrepreneur'. The study, therefore, highlights that public funding, with support of moderating factors, can impact the attitude of entrepreneur towards the adoption of sustainable practices in business.

Keywords: sustainability; entrepreneurship; sustainable business practices; food entrepreneurship; ISM.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2021.118638

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2021 Vol.17 No.6, pp.704 - 722

Received: 07 Dec 2019
Accepted: 10 Dec 2019
Published online: 30 Oct 2021 *

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