Sustainable innovation in Danish Campsites: A study of how Danish campsites engage in sustainable innovation, the barriers they face, and how they overcome them
Authors
Riis, Camilla Bonde ; Lerche, Caroline Kjær ; Borby, Amanda Marie
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-05-31
Pages
112
Abstract
This thesis examines how Danish campsites pursue sustainable innovation, which obstacles they encounter, and how they address them. The study uses an explanatory mixed-method design: a questionnaire received 85 responses from campsites, and 26 interviews were conducted. Survey results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and then guided the in-depth interview analysis. The interviews were coded using qualitative techniques (Structural, In Vivo, and Pattern coding), and campsites were grouped by the number of innovations they had introduced (less, medium, and highly innovative). The analysis identifies four main drivers that start the innovation process: cost savings and efficiency, customer demand, the influence of policy (including new waste-sorting rules for Danish businesses), and green values. When engaging in sustainable innovation, campsites typically move through five stages: idea generation, decision-making, securing support before implementation, implementation, and evaluation. Respondents face three recurring barriers: limited finances, limited time and staff, and regulations. All campsites encounter these to some degree, but they handle them in different ways. The thesis discusses options for overcoming barriers and contributes a clearer understanding of the innovation process in campsites. It also offers practical recommendations: increase financial incentives, simplify funding applications, involve Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) in planning and implementation to ease time constraints, strengthen collaboration between DMOs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to better align with campsite needs, and better facilitate networks and partnerships that support more sustainable innovations.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan danske campingpladser arbejder med bæredygtig innovation, hvilke hindringer de møder, og hvordan de håndterer dem. Undersøgelsen anvender et forklarende blandet metode-design: Et spørgeskema gav 85 svar fra campingpladser, og der blev gennemført 26 interviews. Spørgeskemasvarene blev analyseret med deskriptiv statistik og dannede grundlag for den kvalitative interviewanalyse. Interviewene blev kodet med kvalitative teknikker (strukturel, in vivo og mønsterkodning), og campingpladserne blev opdelt efter antal gennemførte innovationer (mindre, mellem og højt innovative). Analysen peger på fire drivkræfter, der sætter innovationsprocessen i gang: omkostningsbesparelser og effektivisering, kundernes efterspørgsel, politisk påvirkning (herunder nye regler om affaldssortering for danske virksomheder), samt grønne værdier. Når de arbejder med bæredygtig innovation, bevæger campingpladserne sig typisk gennem fem faser: idéudvikling, beslutningstagning, at skaffe opbakning før implementering, implementering og evaluering. Respondenterne møder tre gennemgående barrierer: begrænsede økonomiske midler, mangel på tid og medarbejdere, samt regulering. Alle campingpladser møder disse i en vis grad, men de håndterer dem forskelligt. Specialet diskuterer muligheder for at overvinde barrierer og bidrager med større indsigt i innovationsprocessen på campingpladser. Det giver også praktiske anbefalinger: flere økonomiske incitamenter, enklere ansøgningsprocesser for finansiering, at destinationsselskaber (DMO’er) hjælper med planlægning og implementering for at afhjælpe tidspres, stærkere samarbejde mellem destinationsselskaber og små og mellemstore virksomheder (SMV’er) for bedre at matche campingpladsernes behov, samt bedre facilitering af netværk og partnerskaber, der kan understøtte mere bæredygtige innovationer.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]