A us awakening to community business : business as if people and place matter

This study was to look at how values driven businesses organize themselves in an exploratory work to look at the possibilities for a more holistic future business model; what their values were beyond the triple bottom line, and how these values are incorporated into the day-to-day activities of the businesses were investigated. The qualitative work used a phenomenological approach building three cases studies 1) the Business Alliance for Local Living Economics 2) five historic businesses, and 3) seven new businesses. Based on narrative accounts, analysis of historic documents, and observation.
Conclusions point to the desirability of more egalitarian organizations at all levels where collaboration is encouraged and even nurtures and where a network support structure exists that will enable propagation of this new business model.