STRATEGIES FOR SCALING UP SOCIAL BUSINESS IMPACT ON SUSTAINABLE LIVING: A CASE STUDY ON SBLIF

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The objective of the study was to investigate scaling up strategies of social business projects in order to create sustainable livelihood among the beneficiaries. Methodology: Qualitative research design was found suitable for this study. A case study method was applied through pursuing face-to-face interviews. Seven social business learning and innovation (SBLIF) projects of Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT) have been selected purposively for the analysis. Main Findings: Findings get evidence of organic growth, collaboration, and dissemination strategies to create impact over sustainable living. Through organic growth, social businesses were generating employment opportunities for communities’ people and enhancing their livelihoods. Collaboration with GTT provided social businesses with access to financial and network resources which helped them to serve disadvantaged, rural, endogenous, and climate-vulnerable people. Disseminations of livelihood strategies helped producers and inhabitants to achieve sustainability in many areas. Social Implications/Applications: Social business, a social purpose-driven business, is attracting worldwide attention for its impact on sustainable living through reducing poverty, inequality, unemployment, and negative environmental impacts. But to create more impact on sustainable livelihood, scaling up the social business organization itself is mandatory. This study could be a guide for social business entrepreneurs and policymakers to advance sustainable livelihoods. Originality/Novelty of the Study: Most of the research uses the term social business as a wider concept which mostly relies on philanthropic-funds. This study focuses on a unique type of social business organizations who are not expected to rely on such philanthropic-funds rather have to cover operating costs which make these businesses a new kind of learning for all social entrepreneurs.