Understanding Goal-Related Tensions within Australian Environmental Social Enterprises

In light of worsening global environmental conditions, environmental social enterprises (ESEs) have been lauded as “sustainable alternatives” to traditional business because creating environmental value is their primary or joint purpose. However, due to the simultaneous pursuit of profit and environmental value, ESEs may experience goal-related tensions, preventing them from achieving their stated purposes. This thesis demonstrates that systems theory can be a useful lens to help understand the emergence and management of tensions. It also has practical implications for organisations pursuing sustainability by demonstrating empirically driven practices that may lead to improved sustainability outcomes.