Abstract
Through qualitative analysis, this paper examines the role of social entrepreneurs as an example of innovative and alternative professional career development. We review the dominant literature about social entrepreneurs’ distinct intentions, attitudes, abilities, and behaviors. We also directly connect social entrepreneurs’ biographies and discourses with the actual nature of their social enterprises. We have found some fundamental common factors as critical determinants of the final social entrepreneurial decision and result: (i) motivations such as emotional connection, moral judgment, personal dissatisfaction, purpose achievement and change, and social needs; (ii) personal internal resources such as connection skills, conviction, creativity, efficiency skills, and learning orientation; (iii) facilitating external factors such as financial and social support, higher and social education, relevant past events, and previous professional experience. Putting together all these factors, we develop a theoretical framework that can explain social entrepreneurship as an alternative career option and connect it with a dominant social entrepreneur’s narrative and profile.
Highlights
Social impact and innovation are crucial aspects of any social entrepreneurship project [1]
We initially identified three major categories in this process of building up their social entrepreneurship as a professional in coincidence with previous literature studies: (a) motivations such as emotional connection, moral judgment, personal
We could identify the relative importance of every factor present in the different social entrepreneursdiscourses. Another aspect in our analysis consisted of a word count from which we have identified what the key concepts embedded in the various social entrepreneursnarratives were
Summary
Social impact and innovation are crucial aspects of any social entrepreneurship project [1]. This research aims to detect the key factors leading social entrepreneurs to build and put into action their social entrepreneurship and, their social enterprises. Added to this initial objective, we want to realize which among these factors have a more profound impact and a more transformational effect in the final decision of these social entrepreneurs to build their organizations. We explore the connection between these factors and the dominant narrative of these social entrepreneurs in building their projects. We take all these components and try to offer a theoretical framework that can explain social entrepreneurship as a process of creating an alternative career path.
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