Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how sustainability is integrated into a new venture’s business network initiation. This study unpacks sustainability in business network initiation using temporal bracketing and identifying its main processes. Temporal bracketing supports the understanding of the evolution of sustainability in network initiation. The processes help explore the sustainability patterns that emerge from the new venture’s attempt to integrate sustainability into network initiation.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory case study of an Italian pasta maker draws on industrial network theory to focus on the business network initiation of new ventures. The novelty is the integration of sustainability into the business network initiation literature. This paper adopts a single case study methodology and an abductive approach to analysis.

Findings

This study finds that sustainability in network initiation is achieved through three periods of initiation and through five processes that are overlapping, intertwined and reciprocal. This study suggests that sustainability can have a positive or negative impact when integrated into the initiation process.

Originality/value

This paper provides a conceptual framework for understanding how a new venture integrates sustainability in its network initiation. The framework comprises periods and processes of network initiation which show how a new venture can integrate sustainability in its business activities and resources through interaction with network actors.

中文翻译：

---

将可持续性融入商业网络启动：以意大利面食制造商为例

目的

本文的目的是探讨如何将可持续性融入新企业的商业网络启动。本研究使用时间括号法和确定其主要流程来解开商业网络启动的可持续性。时间括号支持对网络启动可持续性演变的理解。这些流程有助于探索新企业将可持续性融入网络启动的尝试中出现的可持续性模式。

设计/方法/方法

意大利面食制造商的探索性案例研究借鉴了工业网络理论，专注于新企业的商业网络启动。新颖之处在于将可持续性整合到商业网络启动文献中。本文采用单一案例研究方法和溯因法进行分析。

发现

本研究发现，网络启动的可持续性是通过三个启动阶段和五个重叠、交织和互惠的过程实现的。这项研究表明，可持续性在融入启动过程时可能会产生积极或消极的影响。

原创性/价值

本文提供了一个概念框架，用于理解新企业如何在其网络启动中整合可持续性。该框架包括网络启动的时期和过程，展示了新企业如何通过与网络参与者的互动将可持续性整合到其业务活动和资源中。