New organizational principles benefits sustainability transition
On Thursday 29 August, Monique de Ritter (RUG/Campus Fryslân) will defend her PhD thesis 'Mission-driven Entrepreneurship in Ecosystems for Sustainable Systems Change'. De Ritter is the first PhD student to defend her thesis at UG/Campus Fryslân in Leeuwarden .
De Ritter's research shows that entrepreneurs can play an important role in finding creative solutions in the sustainability transition, provided that they cooperate effectively with a multitude of stakeholders within so-called business and social 'ecosystems'.
Diversity in partnerships and collaboration crossing traditional boundaries
For her research, Monique de Ritter interviewed mission-driven entrepreneurs and also studied networks and ecosystems, such as Powered by Meaning, Social Impact Factory and Holland Circular Hotspot. Her research shows that ecosystems can be the building blocks for a new entrepreneurial economy. Collaboration in ecosystems is based on other organizational principles. One of the most important of these principles is the shift from competition and hierarchy to deep collaboration crossing traditional boundaries. This means that collaboration should not only take place with individuals and organizations that are comparable or like-minded, but across sectors and industries, from large to small, from public to private. With regard to the organization of ecosystems, the research showed that it is important to have a clear ecosystem builder/designer who plays a pioneering role and involves other parties in the process. In addition, there must be a common and convincing vision that connects the stakeholders to take joint action. Finally, when working in networks, it is important that the 'structures' of collaboration are flexible and can change during the process, as opposed to the more fixed division of roles in traditional organizations.
Promotional details
Mrs. M. de Ritter: Mission-driven Entrepreneurship in Ecosystems for Sustainable Systems Change. PhD Supervisors are Prof. Dr. G. de Jong (RUG/Campus Fryslân) and Prof. Dr. A.J.M. Roobeek (Nyenrode Business University).Last modified: | 06 April 2021 1.55 p.m. |
More news
-
06 June 2025
India-Netherlands Hydrogen Valley Fellowship Programme announced
To coincide with World Environment Day, 5 June 2025, the Indian Department of Science and Technology and the University of Groningen yesterday announced a Hydrogen Valley Fellowship Programme Partnership, allowing talented Indian scholars working on...
-
24 March 2025
UG 28th in World's Most International Universities 2025 rankings
The University of Groningen has been ranked 28th in the World's Most International Universities 2025 by Times Higher Education. With this, the UG leaves behind institutions such as MIT and Harvard. The 28th place marks an increase of five places: in...
-
05 March 2025
Women in Science
The UG celebrates International Women’s Day with a special photo series: Women in Science.