To address the issue of sustainability, eco-preneurship, humane entrepreneurship and social enterprenuership have each been developed to complement the traditional wealth creation or economic approach to entrepreneurship.
- Entrepreneurship, according to Onuoha (2007), “is the practice of starting new organizations or revitalizing
mature organizations, particularly new businesses generally in response to identified opportunities.”
- Eco-preneurship represents the principles of entrepreneurship being applied to create businesses that solve environmental problems or operate sustainably
- Human entrepreneurship focuses on the management of people within enterprises, “presents a new perspective on how to create 40 million quality jobs each year and helps address global challenges” (Kim, et. al., 2018,10).
- & in Social entrepreneurship, the aim is not to create wealth but to find innovative solutions for community-based problems.
Harmonious entrepreneurship, based on systems thinking, recognises the inter-connectivity of the ecosystem and integrates or harmonises all four approaches, creating a 21st century model for business that is intended to help save our planet.
At the HES we define Harmonious Entrepreneurship as: “a vision for the future that is rooted in ethical innovation that results in change and improvement in economy and society, while not harming or damaging people or the environment. Preferably, it improves and replenishes them and leads to development that is both long-term and sustainable”.
The HES was co-founded by Professor David A. Kirby and Dr Felicity Healey-Benson in November 2020 to:
- Support educators to facilitate ‘Harmonious Entrepreneurship’
- Equip young adults with the knowledge, competences and skills to launch a Harmonious Entrepreneurial venture
- Encourage research into ‘Harmonious Entrepreneurship’ and the outcomes resulting from its application
- Recognise & disseminate research findings and best practice through publication and conference presentation.
The HES Principles of Practice (HES POP) can be accessed below.
Our founding principles can be traced to a forthcoming article written by Professor David A. Kirby and Dr Iman El-Kaffass (World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management, and Sustainable Development, 2021). In it the authors provide two case studies comparing the deleterious, negative consequences for Sustainability stemming from the more traditional wealth creation forms of entrepreneurship with the more positive outcomes resulting from the Harmonised approach.
The HES also has a strong alignment with the work of the Harmony Institute from which we draw Project Advisor Support: Associate Professor Nicholas Campion and Professor of Practice David Cadman. The aims of the Harmony Institute are to “critically explore what constitutes ‘Harmony’ and how this can be applied in society” as well as “sponsor and organise events, develop publications and provide scholarships“. Their working definition of Harmony has been adopted from David Cadman, which chimes in with our endeavours at the HES. We explore the use of the Harmony principles a litter later on.
“Harmony is an expression of wholeness, a way of looking at ourselves and the world of which we are part. It’s about connections and relationships. The emotional, intellectual and physical are all connected. We are connected to our environments, both built and natural; and all the parts of our communities and their environments are connected, too. Harmony asks questions about relationship, justice, fairness and respect in economic, social and political relationships. As an integrative discipline it can be expressed in ideas and practice.” (David Cadman 23 May 2017).
Case Study: The Birth of the Chemical Industry in Widnes
Background: When Felicity met David and the ‘HES’ was born https://emergentthinkers.com/2020/07/30/the-mind-behind-entrepreneurial-mindset-education/
Extended Reading on Harmony Principles can be accessed on Professor of Practice David Cadman’s website: davidcadmanatwork.com . David has also authored a series of papers which reference to the need to shift consciousness away from a culture of dominance and toward a Narrative of Love with new forms of economy. They can be found under the Publications tab at narrative-of-love.org.
References
Harmony Institute Publications: see https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/harmony-institute/publications/
Kim, K., El Tarabishy, A., and Bae, Z., (2018), “Humane entrepreneurship: How focusing on people can drive a new era of wealth and quality job creation in a sustainable world”, Journal of Small Business Management, 56 (sup.1),pp. 10-29.
Kirby, D.A. and El-Kaffass, I. (2021), “Harmonious entrepreneurship – a new approach to the challenge of global sustainability”, World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Article publication date: 12 July 202. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-09-2020-0126
Onuoha G., (2007), “Entrepreneurship”, AIST International Journal, 10, pp. 20-32.
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