The Background of Ajay Gupta - Case Study Example

Introduction The ability to create innovative business opportunities while providing different structures and opportunities is one that is the focus of many entrepreneurs. The idea of an entrepreneur is one that is based on an individual who decides to move into a new enterprise, venture or idea that builds revenue and a basic business structure. After building this endeavor, there is the ability to create a various structure and different types of services or products that can be used within the community (Hebert, Link, 39, 1989). One of the entrepreneurs that are beginning to show a different set of concepts that are related to being within the business is the founder of Habitat Suites in Austin, Texas. The changes that have been made as a part of this hotel and the focus of the idea and endeavor have created a change with the business and provided a different opportunity within the hospitality industry. Background of Entrepreneur Ajay Gupta, owner of Habitat Suites, started the venture in 1999. Before this time, he was focused on natural concepts that were related to the environment as well as how individuals could protect and change the environment according to different uses of resources. In 1999, Ajay bought the hotel from another company who was focused on providing the basic amenities. Ajay began to change the look of the hotel by adding in more natural concepts as well as changing some of the internal structure to become more environmentally friendly. From this time, Ajay began to learn about permaculture and other concepts that were considered green and environmentally friendly. The hotel is now regarded as one of the most eco-friendly hotels in the USA and provides some of the greenest amenities in the area (Habitat Suites, 2010). The focus on Ajay is one that shows the idea of entrepreneurship from several perspectives. This entrepreneur was selected because they focused on a newer idea that is in demand in the community. From this idea, they established a hotel that is now a part of a leading structure that many others are trying to be a part of. The concepts and ideas that have been initiated in this business have then presented a different set of concepts that can be used by other hotels. More importantly, the idea has moved into a business venture that will lead to more opportunities and initiatives. The example of this owner of taking the basic concepts and understanding of both hotel amenities and going green and changing it into an idea that fit different perspectives shows this entrepreneur as one that is valuable to the community. More importantly, the ability to take a sense of leadership in changing specific concepts about hotels while initiating new ideas has led to a different set of concepts that can be used within the community. Personal Influences of Career The personal influences on Ajay’s career come from his background. He was known to have a strong appeal to the natural and to the way in which the environment should exist. It was this basis and passion that led Ajay forward into a different set of ideals and alternatives within the community. Ajay was able to take his passion and background to focus on the hospitality industry and to begin changing the way in which a hotel ran because of his main focus. This was followed by the personal influences that began to come after Ajay opened the concept of a green hotel. It was known that an environmentalist took the personal initiative to help Ajay with his business after he began running it and changing the gardens. The main focus was to show concepts of permaculture and to show different ways in which the hotel could run for more environmentally friendly alternatives. It was from this that Ajay was able to build a stronger reputation about going green in the hospitality industry (Habitat Suites, 2010). Sociological Influences on Career The sociological movements that were able to change Ajay’s level of entrepreneurship and career were based on the green movement that is currently occurring in the US. The motto of the hotel is environmental consciousness in action. This basis shows that there is a direct response to the environmental movement that is currently happening in the United States. The consciousness of those interested in the environment has been used with the way that the hotel runs and the internal structure of the hotel. For instance, not using pesticides, ecologically fresh rooms, not using chemicals for cleaning and permaculture are all used within the hotel. Each of these are a part of the current social trends to be more environmentally conscious and that are active in their approach to helping with the environment. This is now being called the green entrepreneurship movement, which moves new business owners into innovative ideas to go green with the ownership of different hotels and other aspects of their company (Roth, 17, 2009). The concept that was initialized by Ajay is one that is based on several ecological influences. The concept of the green entrepreneur is one that has several motives for those that are interested in the concept. The first is the sociological movement occurring throughout the United States. This began with the green movement started through awareness about global warming. Those that were interested in changing the environment began to take initiatives while supporting the green movement through consumption of various products. The concept of going green grew into society through different initiatives and concepts that were based on finding new alternatives for going green (Taylor, Walley, 56, 2004). The sociological movements in society are followed by four main categories of entrepreneurs. The first are innovative opportunists who are looking at aspects of the green movement and using new inventions and ideas to support the green economy. The second are visionary champions who are producing new business concepts and ideals to initiate the go green environment. The third and fourth are ethical mavericks and accidental enviropreneurs. These two individuals are interested in saving the environment while others are finding new ventures that are based on going green, even though there is not a general focus on the environment. These different concepts for entrepreneurs is one of the sociological aspects that is leading many entrepreneurs to find new ventures within businesses and to begin taking initiative in supporting the go green social movement that is currently occurring (Taylor, Walley, 62, 2004). Environmental Issues of Entrepreneur’s Career The environmental issues that are a part of Ajay’s career with the hotel is based on an understanding of the needs for the environment as well as the social pressures that are currently a part of this. The concept of innovation is the leading factor among entrepreneurs, which is followed by forms of leadership within this. The main environmental issue that is connected to Habitat Suites is based on helping the environment to change by creating an exemplary hotel through a discovery of different methods that eliminate the use of unfriendly environmental resources. The main issues that are a part of the entrepreneur’s career are based on identifying the current environment and responding with background knowledge on how to change the environment. The issue that is a par of this is based on creating a different method that responds to the current needs of the environment (Krueger, 260, 2001). Even though these specific aspects of Habitat Suites are moving toward the initiation of the green hotel, there are other factors that became issues through the innovation of the hotel. When beginning this hotel, the question of risk was a part of the initiative. The hotel was changed in 1999, which was the beginning of the green movement. During this time, there was a higher amount of risk that was taken with the initiatives. Since environmental awareness among those in society was not as strong, the hotel required some risk in changing what was used and the way in which it functioned. The risk that was involved was one that was based on whether the management could initiate the green movement as well as how the internal structure could change for those that were in the hotel. More importantly, the opportunity was followed by high levels of risk, specifically because there was not an understanding of whether the controls could change as well as what could be expected within the environment (Krueger, 263, 2001). Another issue present with the hotel is with the need to continue with innovation while maintaining stability among the hotel. When the hotel first began, there was a level of risk because it was at the beginning of the sociological movement occurring. However, there is now an increase in the amount of competition for green hotels. This leads to different risks and issues that are a part of the environment. To compensate for this, there has to be a continuous risk factor to create different types of options for the green movement and to create a brand presence for the hotel. The ability to continue with entrepreneurialship management then becomes a main issue while changing the focus of the hotel and remaining a leader in the go green movement (Stevenson, Jarillo, 155, 2007). The timing of the beginning of the hotel, the initiative to change the internal structure of the hotel and the alterations into the green movement were the main risks that were taken. As the hotel began to move into a level of prosperity, it was able to move into even more risk. Specifically, Ajay began to incorporate ideas of permaculture while continuing to alter the environmentally friendly initiatives that were in the market. The ability to continue to remain at a level of risk while creating a level of demand within the hotel was what provided the main concepts of the hotel while providing a different set of concepts toward the hotel. The risk factors that were a part of the initial hotel continue to be prevalent as the hotel grows and as those that are involved find new and innovative measures. These allow the hotel to remain progressive while creating a different set of concepts that are a part of the hotel. Conclusion The concept of entrepreneurship is one that is not only based on the ability to create a business. More importantly, innovation and newer ideas have to be present with the different businesses and have to create a deeper understanding of what is occurring within society. When looking at examples such as Habitat Suites, it can be seen that the concept of entrepreneurship is applied at various levels. This includes the ability to take a risk to create an innovative product. More importantly, this leads to different initiatives that allow the hotel to continue to progress and change for those that are interested in the green movement. The ability to remain in front of the sociological movement and to create a demand through the green movement becomes the focal point of success. References Habitat Suites. (2010). About Us. Retrieved from: http://www.habitatsuites.com/about.htm. Hebert, Robert, Albert Link. (1989). In Search of the Meaning of Entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics (1), (1). Krueger, Norris. (2001). Entrepreneurship: Critical Perspectives on Business and Management New York: Taylor and Francis. Roth, Bill. (2009). Hotel Industry Embraces Green Revolution. The Entrepreneur (May). Stevenson, Howard, Carlos Jarillo. (2007). A Pardigm of Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurial Management. Entrepreneurship (2), (10). Taylor, David, EE Walley. (2004). The Green Entrepreneur: Opportunist, Maverick or Visionary? International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (1), (2). Read More