The social movements are commonly associated with protests and not infrequently with shock groups and political destabilization, but in United States some of these organizations have become a driving force behind actions in favor of innovation and entrepreneurship against the climate change.
In an article in World Economic Forum, Desirée PachecoProfessor of Entrepreneurship at the IESE Business School, of the University of NavarraThe company's mission is to promote the development and growth of the business community. emerging industriesserving as catalysts for innovation in some of the areas where it is most needed.
"To understand the relationship between social movements and entrepreneurship, Portland State University professor Theodore Khoury and I looked at the U.S. solar energy industry and technology-focused advocacy organizations dedicated to promoting renewable energy," he says.
They wanted to know if these organizations social movements can benefit entrepreneurship, as well as where and when they can be most effective in attracting new entrants to the fray, he explains.
Not all social movement organizations are the same, he clarifies, but those who studied in United States had a targeted and goal-oriented, rather than confrontational, approach.
"Examples of the groups we looked at were Carolina Land and Lakes , Acadia Center and Energy Trust of Oregon and all launched various initiatives to promote clean energy. They conducted training and education programs; fought misinformation and found common ground; pushed for regulatory reform; and managed programs for technology exchange or upgrades," he details.
Pacheco notes that social movements played an important role in bringing new players into the solar industry, and found similar findings in a variety of newly developing industries, such as green building and recycling.
"Social movement organizations can stimulate the entry of smaller specialized companies and limit the dominance of generalist companies. They do this by securing the support of consumers and government agencies," he asserts.
If social movements work to secure state incentives for rooftop solar panels or if they provide information on smaller players in the market, niche solar providers can compete with large energy companies, despite their greater reach and economies of scale, he stresses.
The Entrepreneurship professor acknowledges that not all industries lend themselves to inspiring social movements, but in the race to save the planet, many sectors are ripe for this dynamic.
Source: World Economic Forum
