Entrepreneurship-driven organizational transformation for sustainability: a sensemaking lens

Abstract

Purpose

This paper adopts a sensemaking lens to explore the process of entrepreneurship-driven organizational transformation for sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis is based on an in-depth case study of a large European meat company. Sensemaking by top and middle managers is analyzed over the period of 18 months.

Findings

The findings show how, over time, bidirectional sensemaking, that is, sensemaking for and of sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship, directed and accelerated organizational transformation for sustainability. The case company transformed with regard to organizational strategy, structure, operations and identity. The process revealed temporally different involvement of top and middle managers in sensemaking.

Originality/value

This paper offers unique insights into fast and emergent sustainability-oriented change in an established organization within a highly topical context. The results highlight how continuous and increasingly shared sensemaking can help top and middle managers navigate organizational change for sustainability in dynamic environments over time.

Citation

Hübel, C. (2022), "Entrepreneurship-driven organizational transformation for sustainability: a sensemaking lens", Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 240-256. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-03-2021-0067