Social entrepreneurship as a form of social responsibility of small and medium-sized businesses

Abstract

Methods. In the research process, the following methods were used: dialectical methods of learning processes and phenomena, monographic method (elaboration of scientific works on the development of social responsibility of business, evolution and transformation of its concepts and social entrepreneurship in Ukraine), empirical method (comprehensive assessment of business sustainability in Ukraine based on social responsibility), abstract-logical (theoretical generalizations and formulation of conclusions). Results. The article is devoted to the study of the determining directions of the socialization of economic relations in modern Ukraine – the development of social responsibility of business and social entrepreneurship. The article provides the author's development of stages of awareness of the essence of social responsibility of business. The paper states that the economic, political and social realities of the domestic present cause the evolution of the concept of the development of social responsibility of business to a social enterprise, which will not only become a source of providing for the material needs of people unable to compete in the labor market, but will also contribute to the solution of various urgent social tasks. Novelty. The scientific novelty of the research results lies in the determination of the stages of the formation of modern awareness of the essence of social responsibility of business: social responsibility of business as an independent initiative, social responsibility of business as charity, social responsibility of business as a subject of strategic planning, social responsibility of business as part of corporate culture, social entrepreneurship as the concept of development of social responsibility of business. The issue of defining common features and distinguishing characteristics for socially responsible business and social entrepreneurship is revealed. Practical value. The results of the study emphasize the importance of the activities of socially responsible companies aimed at strengthening social interaction and partnership (with the possibility of creating social enterprises and attracting disabled soldiers to work, internally displaced persons who have lost their homes), supporting the local population, as well as increasing the level of psychological health and well-being of employees.