Evaluating the Business Model of a Work Integration Social Enterprise in Cantabria

Abstract

The uprising of new business models within the sphere of social economy has led to the appearance of the term hybrid organizations, which pursue a social mission and sustain their operations through commercial activities. In this sense, those organizations compete not only on the quality of products or services but also on the capacity to have a social and/or environmental impact. Work integration social enterprises (WISEs) represent hybrid organizations, since they are a type of social companies dedicated to help people at risk of social exclusion to join the ordinary labour market, in addition to its commercial activity. The objective of this contribution is twofold. First, it reflects the evolution and comparison of business model representations through canvases facing the appearance of new types of hybrid organizations. Second, the analysis of the business model of a WISE in Cantabria is proposed. The use of different business model representations shows how the visibility of the WISE’s information is modulated depending on the type of canvas used, so that not all of them are suitable to reflect the two purposes (social and economic) in hybrid companies.