Social Entrepreneurial Intentions - A Thematic Analysis

Abstract

The field of Social Entrepreneurial Intention (SEI) is evolving as an area of research and enquiry. A total of 43 papers have examined the influence of different variables on the formation of social entrepreneurial intentions (SEIs) from 2008 to 2019. However, a proper systematization seems to be still lacking, which calls for accumulating the currently available literature in the form of an organized thematic framework. The purposes of this paper are first to collate different variables influencing the formation of SEIs and then to develop homogeneous clusters that organize these variables under specific themes. To undertake that firstly, a systematic literature review of 43 articles specific to SEIs from seven different research databases and Google Scholar was conducted. Subsequently, thematic analysis was performed, which resulted in the emergence of four distinct themes (Context, Person, Experience, and Outcomes) that influence the formation of SEIs. While doing that, the study also examined different theories and models that have been used in the domain of SEI research. Through this analysis, the study not only organised the existing SEI literature under distinct themes as a comprehensive framework but also contributes by setting the research agenda for the future.