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School of Business | Department of Management and International Business | SME Business Management | 2013
Thesis number: 13496
Ecopreneurial motivations - towards an understanding
Author: Kääriäinen, Otso
Title: Ecopreneurial motivations - towards an understanding
Year: 2013  Language: eng
Department: Department of Management and International Business
Academic subject: SME Business Management
Index terms: pk-yritykset; smes; yrittäjyys; entrepreneurship; ekologia; ecology; kestävä kehitys; sustainable development; motivaatio; motivation; elintarviketeollisuus; food industry
Pages: 126
Key terms: ecopreneurship; entrepreneurship; motivation; sustainability; sustainable development; food industry
Abstract:
Research Objectives

The objective of this study was to research ecopreneurial motivations from an individual perspective, in the food industry. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to research, what motivated these ecopreneurs to start a business in this particular industry.

Methodology

The research was conducted as a multiple case study of three ecopreneurs, from different value chain phases of the food industry. Primary data was gathered by thematic interviews, whereas secondary data was gathered via the internet. All interviews were transcribed and in the first phase of analysis, analyzed case by case. In the second phase a comparative analysis was performed. The techniques, that was used in the empirical data analysis is called template analysis.

Research Findings

The research utilizes a framework, which was derived from academic literature, to study, what motivations were present in the startup phase of each individual case. The study found, that four out of five concepts of motivations were also present in this study. The concept of passion was the most prominent in terms of previously established concepts. However, the study found two additional concepts, which were not present in previous research. Therefore, these two concepts of leaving a mark and lifestyle are the most significant contributions of this study to the growing ecopreneurship research.
Master's theses are stored at Learning Centre in Otaniemi.