The Configuration of WEconomy trends; Exploring interrelated relations and clusters

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2016-11-16
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en
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Recent scientific research has determined seven trends (economies) that stimulate the transition towards a more sustainable society (Jonker 2015; Wijnholds, 2015). These trends combined are called the 'WEconomy'. There are several applications of these trends within our society. It is, however, unclear how these trends contribute to and strengthen each other. The goal of this research is to gain more insight into the configuration of these WEconomy trends. This configuration consists of two parts: • First, the relations between two trends are established. • Second, the relations between Economy trends are used to establish clusters of multiple trends. Since the WEconomy trends and its relations and clusters are socially constructed, two different approaches are used in order to construct a representative configuration of the trends. First, all the potential relations and clusters are defined based on a literature review. These assumptions also result in hypotheses. Second, the hypotheses are tested with quantitative research, where practitioners and experts related to at least one WEconomy trend gave their vision on existing relations and clusters. The two outcomes are compared and this resulted in a configuration of WEconomy trends, where the left side are the relations and the right side are the clusters: These research outcomes will need to be clarified in more detail with further research. First, it would be useful to completely define the configuration of the WEconomy. There are still undefined relations because the respondents were indecisive about these relations. Furthermore, the strengths of the relations and possible negative or balancing effects could be researched to add to the concept of the WEconomy. When the configuration of the WEconomy is further established and the concept is further expanded, it will be possible to measure the impact of the WEconomy trends, including the relations and clusters, on the business models of organizations. This approach would result in more insight in what impact the WEconomy has on the transition towards a more sustainable society.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen