An Entrepreneurial Process to Build a Sustainable Business for Indigenous Craft Revitalization

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is acknowledged as a promising vehicle for driving regeneration and community development in deprived areas. This article presents a participatory case study on the building of an inclusive business for an indigenous community in Taiwan. The participatory case study evolved over five years and provides insights into collaborative partnerships, synergies of craft-design creativity, and entrepreneurship in practice concerning the establishment of a viable community-based business. Based on this unique practical experience, we propose an entrepreneurial process to develop venture opportunities, and apply a case study approach to elaborate on the activities and methods undertaken at each stage of the process. This study is expected to contribute to design research and practical knowledge regarding entrepreneurship and local craft revitalization and serves as a catalyst in encouraging more collective action towards a sustainable future.

Keywords:

• indigenous craft revitalization
• design intervention
• entrepreneurship
• sustainability

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank all participants in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work is partially supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan [Grant ID: 103-EC-17-A-25-1015].

Notes on contributors

Fang-Wu Tung

Fang-Wu Tung is an associate professor in the department of Design at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. Her research interests include new product development, design entrepreneurship, multi-disciplinary collaboration and design-related aspects of the innovation process.