The corporate appropriation of sufficiency: driving forces and degrees of appropriation

L’appropriation de la sobriété par les entreprises: forces en tension et degrés d’appropriation

Benjamin Combes (), Franck Aggeri () and Valérie Guillard
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Benjamin Combes: CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Franck Aggeri: CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Valérie Guillard: DRM - Dauphine Recherches en Management - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: This paper explores the appropriation of the concept of sufficiency (sobriété) in a corporate context. We selected a qualitative exploratory approach through the collection of primary and secondary data on companies demonstrating sufficiency practices. The analysis of this data using force field theory (Burnes & Cooke, 2013) and appropriation theory (Vaujany, 2006) revealed a process of arbitration between forces that encourage and discourage the deployment of sufficiency in companies. This trade-off leads to three different degrees of appropriation: elementary, experimental and systemic. Elementary appropriation reflects a defensive position motivated by compliance with regulations, risk management and competitiveness, resulting in minimal integration; sobriety is then perceived as a constraint. Experimental appropriation sees sufficiency as a gradual change and a market opportunity, driven by changing demand and personal values, through pilot projects. Systemic appropriation reflects a profound, values-driven transformation of the entire organisation, where sufficiency becomes a guiding principle. For each level of appropriation, we present the corresponding modalities of deployment, highlighting the management tools that can help overcome the obstacles to scaling up sufficiency in a strong circularity approach.

Keywords: sufficiency; appropriation; force field analysis; business models; analyse des champs de force; modèles d'affaires; sobriété (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-10-08
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-05267021v1
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Published in RIODD 2025 : Entre conflits et convergences, comprendre et explorer les dynamiques de l'acceptabilité sociale dans les transitions socio-environnementales, Université Toulouse Capitole, Oct 2025, Toulouse, France

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