How social business hybrids vary in international contexts

Abstract

This study contributes to a better understanding of how social business hybrids get implemented in an international context. Specifically, it investigates the variation in business model configurations of social business hybrids based on two of their major international dimensions- the international experience of founders, and the location of business clients. For this purpose, this study employs qualitative case study and analyzes interview data from field research on impact sourcing service providers. Four major business model configurations are identified- professional (social mission-driven, differentiated), socially responsible (business opportunity-driven, differentiated), developmental (social mission- driven, integrated) and opportunistic (business opportunity-driven, integrated). This study intends to contribute towards the growing field of globalizing social businesses.