This paper aims to better understand the complex interplay and co-shaping of relationships among quadruple helix actors, i.e. universities, firms, institutions, and civil society, underlying the dynamics of knowledge exchange networks for the entrepreneurial valorization of academic research, and related impacts. A longitudinal co-evolutionary analysis of a successful case study regarding a network among quadruple helix actors operating in Italy (Start Cup Lazio) has been conducted by adopting participatory action research. The co-evolutionary lens adopted in the paper looks at the relationship between actors of the network, the network itself, and the external environment as circular, mutually influential, and dialectical, considering them as forces that co-determine organizational adaptation. Results draw attention to the dialectical nature of the relationships among quadruple helix actors involved, the reciprocal influence between them and eight factors, internal and external to universities, in shaping the network dynamics, leading to societal impacts. The latter are comprehensively assessed through a set of proposed indicators. Findings suggest conceiving positive societal impacts generated by such networks as a result of multilevel co-evolutionary adaptations among quadruple helix actors and between the network itself and the rest of society. Systemic approach is identified as the main determinant of effective co-adaptations. Results extend prior research by providing a novel co-evolutionary explanation of network dynamics and related societal impacts in the context of complex adaptive systems. Practical implications for quadruple helix actors suggest how to engage in a network of relationships to co-create innovative solutions from entrepreneurial valorization of research that address societal needs.

Purpose - How does the interaction between time and knowledge affect the evolution of organizations? Past research in organizational evolution has mostly investigated time and knowledge as two separate variables. In contrast, theoretical perspectives integrating these variables are still seemingly scant. The authors believe that filling this literature gap needs attention. Thus, this study aims to contribute by developing a conceptual framework.Design/methodology/approach - This is a conceptual study. The framework is centred on the concept of "co-evolutionary time", which the authors explain through a business example from the tourism industry. Supported by a narrative-based style, from a methodological point of view the framework is featured by the attempt to synthesize specific, extant literature into new theoretical development.Findings - As its main theoretical contribution, the co-evolutionary time suggests how firms can adapt in a way that, from an evolutionary perspective, proves fitting both in terms of contents and methods, thus opening possibilities for new long-term social construction and reconstruction. As its main practical contribution, co-evolutionary time can constitute not only a temporary source of organizational success and competitive advantage but also an agent of enduring change and long-term business survival.Originality/value - As its main novelty, the framework is developed through merging two literature streams. In particular, the authors first consider the literature about time, with a focus on its objective and subjective dimensions. The authors then consider the literature about organizational evolution, with a focus on the co-evolutionary nature of the firm/environment relationship.

PurposeThis paper aims to better understand how business model innovation (BMI) occurs in the context of sustainable entrepreneurship, emphasizing the dialectical nature of entrepreneurial relationships. To do so, key interdependencies and reciprocal influences between internal/firm-specific and external/environmental factors underlying BMI for sustainability are analysed through co-evolutionary lenses.Design/methodology/approachA co-evolutionary framework is developed and applied to a longitudinal business model (BM) analysis of 15 Italian widespread hotels, which creatively use historic villages at risk of abandonment to establish their hotels.FindingsLargely influenced by the interplay between internal and external factors, BMI of widespread hotels occurs through multilevel co-adaptations, which are recognised as virtuous by all stakeholders involved. Effective variations of the BM value elements are selected resulting in circular economy practices, which are retained for successful BMI, radical (first) and incremental (thereafter). Knowledge of specific local and multi-local conditions, time awareness and a future-oriented temporal perspective, by both entrepreneurs and policymakers, favour this dynamic.Practical implicationsDeveloping targeted policies and practices based on increased organisational knowledge supported by indicators can help in selecting and retaining successful variations of BMs appropriately in/with time with positive effects on firms' performance and sustainable development.Originality/valueThis study provides a novel co-evolutionary framework that explicitly links sustainable entrepreneurship and BM concepts in the accommodation sector. It further proposes a dynamic and holistic explanation of BMI for sustainability from which the crucial roles of the time-knowledge binomial and circular practices emerge.

Due to the current complex socio-economic and ecological challenges, there is an urgent need in tourism literature and practice to rethink destination management models. Thus, this paper draws on the conceptualisation of the tourism destination as an ecosystem and develops a co-evolutionary destination management model that allows grasping the relationships and temporal dynamics between destination key actors. The study investigates the Castelli Romani rural destination comprised of 16 geographically proximate municipalities near Rome. Then, the proposed model is applied to this destination by mainly looking at the dynamic interplay between its key actors and underlying ecosystem evolution towards (un)sustainability. Results show the crucial role of sustainable entrepreneurship in this dynamic and the importance for destination management organisations (DMO) to involve sustainable and innovative entrepreneurs, reinforcing the entrepreneurial vision of destination development. From that, both theoretical and practical implications are derived.

This study aims to provide empirical evidence about how sustainable heritage tourism paths can be developed in Ghana by focusing on the relationship between 20 guesthouses and various other local and multi-local actors. A co-evolutionary analysis is conducted stressing the dialectical nature of this relationship and following a mixed method. Findings from the analysis highlight eight interconnected key factors: five inhibitors and three enablers that are capable of influencing (un)sustainable heritage tourism paths development. In this dynamic, the application of the principle of subsidiarity, coupled with capacity building, can help the various multilevel actors coadapt effectively. Consequently, the study suggests conceiving heritage tourism paths as co-evolutionary processes generated, and recognised as virtuous, by all actors involved. This research contributes to under-standing the socio-economic and environmental dynamics underlying sustainable heritage tourism development in Africa as advocated in literature. Moreover, the findings may help decision makers and policy makers to exploit the huge sustainable potential of heritage tourism.

Purpose This paper aims to enhance understanding of how sustainable entrepreneurship (SE) contributes to sustainable development in the tourism sector. To do so, specific factors that act as enablers or inhibitors of SE are identified according to a co-evolutionary lens. Design/methodology/approach A co-evolutionary explanation of the firm? Environment relationship is adopted to undertake a qualitative empirical study of the Castelli Romani tourism destination (Italy), via 23 semi-structured interviews according to a narrative approach. Findings The paper demonstrates that entrepreneurs play a crucial role in sustainable development but cannot act in isolation. In fact, according to the co-evolutionary approach, they influence and are influenced by 20 factors. Accordingly, SE can be conceptualised as resulting from effective co-evolutionary interactions between micro (i.e. entrepreneurs and their firm), meso (i.e. the destination where tourism firms are based) and macro (i.e. the wider socio-economic and natural system) levels. Practical implications Several actions are suggested to entrepreneurs and policymakers to help achieve specific sustainable development goals. These actions focus on: (1) training courses, (2) investments in technologies, (3) creation of innovative business models, (4) exploitation of cultural and natural resources, (5) community involvement and (6) multi-level partnerships. Originality/value This is the first study that adopts a co-evolutionary lens to investigate the influencing factors of SE in tourism, shedding light on the effects of their dynamic interdependence. Thus, it provides a more nuanced SE conceptualisation that takes a holistic and dynamic view of sustainability.

The link between the business model (BM) and sustainability is recognized in tourism research and practice, especially as far as its socioeconomic consequences are concerned. Moreover, prior studies have highlighted some key factors influencing the sustainable business models (SBMs) of tourism firms but have mainly done so by adopting static perspectives. Thus, how these firms can contribute to sustainability through their BMs with positive effects, particularly on natural resources, remains overlooked. Thus, we adopt coevolutionary lenses to explore the main processes surrounding tourism firms' SBM. Coevolution conceives the firm-environment relationship as both circular, with mutual influence and reciprocal changes, and dialectical. Accordingly, we analyze 28 Italian agritourism firms during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency period focusing on the dynamics of their relationship with various multilevel actors (including institutions, local communities, tourists) by considering internal and external factors influencing their SBM. The dialectical nature of this relationship is stressed. We find three new factors: sustainable tourism culture, tourist loyalty, and local natural resource setting. Moreover, from the coevolutionary analysis of the findings, we derive a framework that conceptualizes agritourism SBMs as a virtuous coevolutionary process through effective coadaptations between multilevel actors influenced by 12 factors. Tourism entrepreneurs and policy-makers should carefully consider the factors influencing SBMs and try to act upon them to effectively organize and manage relationships of mutual functionality in light of current challenges, especially environmental concerns.

This chapter offers a sufficiently exhaustive overview of some key management tools appropriately selected by the authors. Given the close in­terconnection between tourism firms and destinations, its premise is that sus­tainable tourism paths can take place if both attempt to properly manage their common problems in the continuous adaptation to environmental evo­lutions. To do so, some tools consolidated in management literature, but still overlooked in tourism research and practice, can be valid support for tourism firms and destinations to analyze their external and internal environments. It is a basic condition to develop adequate knowledge of new opportunities and challenges deriving from the interplay between socioeconomic and environ­mental systems, acting accordingly. Therefore, these tools are needed to im­prove the impact of sustainable tourism through the propagation of sustain­able business models. The chapter represents one of the very few attempts to point out the effectiveness of their joint consideration.

How farms can create and maintain sustainable agritourism is yet to be fully addressed. Given its link with sustainable development, research on agritourism sustainability, while highlighting the positive consequences, has neglected the theoretical perspectives. We thus find a lacuna in holistically understanding its driving processes and, consequently, its conceptualization. In response, this article draws extensively on the ecological economics co-evolutionary framework to explain the intertwined dynamics underlying sustainable agritourism and its determinants. Co-evolution conceives the organizations-environments relationship as circular, with mutual influence, and dialectical. We analyze the dynamics of the farm-rural destination relationship through a longitudinal analysis of 20 Italian agritourism farms. We find that sustainable agritourism emerges within rural destinations through diffused multilevel interactions and feedbacks resulting in organizational practices that enhance the farm and region's identities, and thus competitiveness. We offer an interpretative framework that conceptualizes sustainable agritourism through effective multilevel co-evolutionary adaptations and identify four determinants: strategic intentionality, rural lifestyle experience, systemic approach, and social responsibility. This approach may help farmers and policymakers develop destinations through sustainable agritourism. Implications for future research and practice in the sustainable tourism field emerge.

This article discusses the concept of courage – stemming from the ancient European traditions of this virtue – systematically analyzing 45 management studies that deepen the role of such virtue in business organizations. From the analysis, three major themes emerge: 1) the concept of courage in organizations, 2) the concept of moral courage in organizations, and 3) the concept of collective courage of organizations. Moreover, findings show that management research on the virtue of courage has progressed over the years and that – notwithstanding its strong European roots – the studies involved in the conversation are mainly not based in Europe. The contribution of this article is threefold. First, it sheds light on a still under-researched virtue, pointing out its relevance in business contexts. Second, it clearly highlights that a shift is occurring in scholars' interest, as an organizational and collective perspective of moral courage is slowly emerging. Finally, it shows that management scholars mainly embrace Aristotle's view of the virtue of courage, discarding the Christian approach introduced by Aquinas.

Obiettivo del paper: L' obiettivo è evidenziare il ruolo della virtù del coraggio nell'imprenditorialità e in particolare la sua importanza per le imprese manufatturiere italiane che debbono costantemente affrontare nuove sfide.Si sottolinea così l'intimo legame sinergico tra coraggio, conoscenza e tempo.Metodologia: Il contributo analizza il succitato ruolo coniugando alcuni capisaldi di pensiero sull'imprenditorialità e sul concetto di coraggio nel pensiero filosofico con una accurata review della letteratura aziendalistica esistente.Inoltre, approfondisce l' analisi attraverso una lettura della dinamica evolutiva di Fiat tesa a dar rilievo ad alcune scelte strategiche permeate da coraggio.

Recently, the co-evolutionary approach has been used in the tourism management literature to better understand the evolutionary dynamics of tourism sector and destinations. Some studies highlight a causal relationship between these dynamics proposing the co- evolutionary approach of the relationship among tourism firms, territories, and tourists. This framework conceptualizes the sustainability of destinations as the result of effective multi- level co-evolutionary adaptations, identifying promoting mechanisms that require synergistic actions between tourism firms and institutions. However, the role of institutions is poorly analysed in this dynamic. Therefore, this study analyses the inter-organizational network promoted by the “Alpine Convention”, adopting the aforementioned framework. Findings show the contribution of the institutional actors regarding the identified mechanisms, highlighting two important processes able to favour a systemic approach to territories and tourism firms, and then competitiveness and social wellbeing. The study reinforces the adopted framework and adds new elements to the destination management literature. Results may be beneficial for policy-and decision- makers.

Industry is continuously evolving, reflecting changes in society. An important aspect of this evolution concerns how new digital technologies are used and their effects on innovation and sustainability. Thus, the relationship between university, industry, and government grows stronger, shifting the focus on technology transfer processes from university to industry, at local and national levels. To increase our understanding of how these processes take place, more theoretical and empirical research is required. This paper aims to respond to this call by examining the university technology transfer through a co-evolutionary approach. The study analyses the dynamics of the relationships at different organisational levels within universities able to create sustainability-oriented innovative university spin-offs and start-ups, through the Italian National Innovation Award case. The findings show that the creation of these spin-offs and start-ups are the result of effective multi-level co-evolutionary adaptations within universities, and among university, industry and government. The article contributes to the further understanding of the management of technology transfer by combining some elements from the literature about the co-evolution of social organisations and their environment with some elements from the Triple Helix model of innovation. Moreover, both theoretical and managerial implications emerge, together with suggestions for future research.

An important aspect of competitiveness between destinations concerns the way in which historical and cultural heritage is used. Thus, the relationship between territories and firms grows stronger, shifting the focus on the innovation processes within and across destinations. To increase our understanding of how these processes take place in a tourism destination, more theoretical and empirical research is required. This paper aims to respond to this call by examining the central role played by the Italian phenomenon of Albergo Diffuso (AD) through a co-evolutionary approach, fertilized by the evolutionary economic geography literature. The study focuses on the dynamics of the relationship between this new hospitality model, territories and tourists, by analysing 14 case studies of ADs rooted in historical villages. Findings show that AD can be considered as a new sustainability-oriented hospitality model which, by creating synergies with its territory, positively affects the competitiveness of the destinations where ADs are located. The theoretical implications suggest that the creation and development of these innovative firms are the result of effective multi-level co-evolutionary adaptations, adding new elements to the existing literature on innovation in tourism. Moreover, implications for both entrepreneurs and policy-makers emerge, together with suggestions for future research.

In recent decades, concepts such as sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness have become fundamental for the development of tourist destinations, and thus, particularly, for the generation of value co-creation processes. To understand the role of tourism firms in these processes, more theoretical and empirical research is required. This paper addresses this need by examining the increasing role played by religious accommodations, adopting a co-evolutionary approach to sustainability and the resulting value co-creation processes. The study focuses on the dynamics of the relationship between this new hospitality model, territories, and tourists, through the analysis of six case studies localized in the historic centre of Rome (Italy). Findings show that religious accommodations can be considered as a new sustainability-oriented hospitality model that, by creating effective multi-level co-evolutionary adaptations with its territory and tourists, positively affects sustainable development as well as the generation of value co-creation processes. The paper contributes significantly both to sustainability literature and to the study of new hospitality models. Thus, theoretical and managerial implications emerge, together with suggestions for future research.