Abstract

Sustainability in the community-based enterprise is the most significant indicator, showing successful learning in local business management. This qualitative study aims to explore the sustainability of community-based enterprises based on leaders’ and members’ learning activities. Thirty-two stakeholders of four urban community-based enterprises were asked to share their viewpoints on the learning management activities and how they make the local businesses sustainable. The semi-structured interview and participant observation were applied to explore their sustainable activities and the business teams’ behaviors in overall local enterprises and communities. The results show that the local leaders and members learn individually as informal learners. At the same time, they share and exchange knowledge and experience in the group networks for their local business solutions. They have the characteristics, including respecting each other and being honest with customers. By applying the sufficiency economy philosophy, they manage and sustain the local enterprises sufficiently and appropriately. The local worker team continuously operates their learning activities for their community livelihood assets and community-based enterprises development. The community enterprise leaders and members urge their residents to participate in the local business learning activities. Not only do they improve their knowledge to be employed and earn more incomes from their community enterprises, but they also can preserve and protect their environment from pollution. The local business team increases the social relationships and networks, opening more opportunities for the local businesses to be well-known and privilege the community dwellers as a whole community-based enterprise learning for sustainability.