What are the Value and Purpose of Social Entrepreneurship? : A Qualitative Approach on Social Entrepreneurs in Indonesia

Abstract

This research explores creation of value and purpose of social entrepreneurship using qualitative approach. This research was conducted because up to these days there are contention everywhere in regard to the value and purpose of social entrepreneurship, particularly regarding the reason that drives a person to be a social entrepreneur, the targeted goal to achieve and the condition as well as their existence in performing their activities. In addition, there are growing phenomena in social entrepreneurship activities causing this scientific contention regarding the value and purpose preserved by the social entrepreneurs up to now. This research utilized an exploratory qualitative method that aims to conduct basic research on the value and purpose of social entrepreneurship as performed by the social entrepreneurs in Indonesia. The result showed that the value and purpose of social entrepreneurship was not limited to social value and purpose only, but it had long gone beyond normative value and purpose such as social and economic values. Moreover, it is interesting that there was a new finding on the value and purpose of social entrepreneurship, in this research. However, not only as mixing of values, but the value and purpose of entrepreneurship are also meant as an exchange of economic, social and spiritual values that take significant effect and go beyond the desired value and purpose to achieve by these social entrepreneurs.