Business as a force for good: Exploring learning and collaboration in the B Corp community
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2022-02-22
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en
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This study explores learning and collaboration mechanisms in the hybrid organizations that aim to enhance their contributing to society by working in communities. Existing research on hybrid organizations shows that communities of practice may positively contribute to fostering sustainable developments. A key factor in these developments lies with the concepts of learning and collaboration in communities of practice. Literature shows that there are three constructs that are important to consider enhancing these learning and collaboration, namely organizational diversity, stakeholder collaboration, and facilitating resources. The B Corp community is approached as a case study, of which the aim is to create more understanding about the community as a frontrunner in sustainability-centered communities of practice. More specifically, it is studied how the constructs and their mechanisms may translate into a community becoming successful and impactful through learning and collaboration. To create more understanding in the relatively unexplored field of sustainability-oriented communities of practice, a qualitative research approach was taken by interviewing ten Dutch B Corps. Results show that organizational diversity, stakeholder collaboration and facilitating resources play a major role in fostering learning and collaboration, which results in inspired community members that continuously aim to develop their sustainable business practices. Future research is recommended to look at other working dynamics of hybrid organizations working in communities of practice, as this study has only cleared a small portion in finding out more about this sustainability-oriented community.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen