Tri-partnerships in knowledge transfer: Changing entrepreneurial mindsets

The UK's drive towards a low-carbon economy is an example of the challenges facing Small-to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). There is still a relatively low take-up of this initiative across all sectors. Is this because of the mindsets of the business managers in SMEs? Certainly research into entrepreneurial mindsets surrounding external environmental factors, particularly on the need to create, develop and deliver green values, suggests that adaptation is significantly influenced by their cognition processes. This paper reports on a longitudinal study into six enterprises involved in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) where uncertainty and ambiguity in their marketplace drove the need to change, and solicit outside help. We report on the business entrepreneurs belief systems, and their sense making associated with their business models during the medium-term KTP projects. A comparative analysis was performed between the six enterprises studied and a framework was developed from the four major emergent constructs: environmental factors, entrepreneurial sense making, strategic orientation and the business model.