Key Success Factors of Social Entrepreneurs in Lebanon

Abstract

This paper aims to identify and analyze the key success factors of some active Lebanese social entrepreneurs. Lebanon represents a developing context characterized by stark cultural and economic divides with weak governmental institutions. A multi-level research approach was adopted for this study that empirically draws on interpretive research methodology and explores the research question based on in-depth interviews with eight social entrepreneurs in Lebanon. Our findings suggest that it is crucial to understand key success factors of social entrepreneurs within a complex multi-layered system (micro, meso, and macro) of interdependent variables that shape social entrepreneurial ambitions and activities in order to grasp the experiences and perceptions of social entrepreneurs in specific contexts. Our study identified critical success factors for social entrepreneurs, and it isolated from among them salient factors particularly pertinent in developing contexts, such as the role of social networks, social inclusion skills, and civic innovation capabilities.