Sustainable organizational innovation in micro-enterprises: the role of university-based consulting and student participation as drivers of competitive advantage
Abstract
Introduction: Micro-enterprises often operate with limited resources and face growing pressure to reconcile economic, social, and environmental outcomes, making sustainable organizational innovation an urgent, unavoidable priority. Objective: This paper examines how university-based consulting contributes to sustainable innovation in micro-enterprises, with a particular focus on the role university students can play through their business education, social service, and professional internships. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of academic and institutional literature (Bowen, 2009) was conducted, identifying four thematic categories related to university-business consulting, organizational sustainability, and engagement models involving student participation. Results: The findings indicate that many micro-entrepreneurs seek external guidance to strengthen internal processes, drive business growth, or access financing—needs that universities can address through entrepreneurship and consulting centers. Conclusions: Based on this analysis, a conceptual model is proposed in which students provide consulting services to micro-enterprises through a university-based Entrepreneurship and Consulting Center. This approach can foster the development of unique, hard-to-imitate organizational capabilities, providing a sustained competitive advantage for the micro-enterprises receiving such support.
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