An examination of community practice social workers as social intrapreneurs or social entrepreneurs

Abstract

Social entrepreneurs and social intrapreneurs are characterised as being socially innovative, proactive and willing to take calculated risks. Evidenced by their practices and behaviours, community practice social workers engage in social change in ways similar to those of social entrepreneurs and social intrapreneurs. This article describes the findings of an explorative study that used survey design methodology to understand the level of social entrepreneurship or social intrapreneurship behaviours of 27 communities practice social workers in a Midwestern state. These findings have implications for training and educating community practice social workers as social entrepreneurs and social intrapreneurs, as they attempt to address complex and dynamic social problems in a global context.