Developing Sustainability-Oriented Innovation Cultures: A Cultivation Approach

This cumulative thesis introduces cultivation as a novel theoretical lens to analyse the development of sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) cultures. Moving beyond conventional approaches that focus on micro (individual), meso (group), and macro (organisational) levels of analysis, cultivation offers a holistic perspective on the dynamic interplay between individual subjectivity, social interactions, and organisational artefacts. The thesis draws on three studies: an ethnographic case study exploring tensions between values and values-action gaps in SOI cultures, and two studies combining systematic literature reviews with expert interviews to examine values-based practices and the role of gamification in supporting SOI culture development. Four theoretical propositions highlight the central role of artefacts in reconciling tensions between values and translating sustainability values into innovation practices. In line with the four theoretical propositions, the thesis offers practical implications for the introduction of specific gamification formats as artefacts that facilitate the cultivation of SOI.