Title: Strategy and poverty

Authors: Alan E. Singer

Addresses: Department of Management, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract: Currently, entrepreneurs and corporations overwhelmingly do not view poverty alleviation as a strategic priority. It is argued here that this mindset, with an associated ideology, is a major cause of poverty in the world. At the outset, distinctive forms of poverty are identified, together with a review of the positive and negative effects of various entrepreneurial activities on each form. These activities can be described as creation and destruction of multiple forms of capital (i.e. financial, human, social, etc.). In order to reduce poverty, entrepreneurs have to find ways of limiting the negative and destructive aspects, by first identifying poverty as a strategic problem and opportunity, then intentionally designing strategies that can achieve a synthesis, in partnership with governments. Some examples of this approach are indicated in the final section.

Keywords: strategy; poverty alleviation; dialectic; synthesis; industry-government partnerships; augmentation; entrepreneurship; enntrepreneurial activity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2004.005752

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2004 Vol.4 No.5, pp.426 - 449

Published online: 30 Nov 2004 *

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