What motivates Czech social entrepreneurs? A qualitative study from an unfavorable social entrepreneurship environment

Abstract

AbstractSocial entrepreneurship is a concept that has significant benefits for society. To shape the appropriate conditions for the development of this generally beneficial phenomenon, we need to ask what motivates entrepreneurs to give priority to social entrepreneurship over commercial entrepreneurship. Although several studies are looking at the motivations of social entrepreneurs, our current knowledge of this issue is limited in two respects. Most research has focused only on the motivations for starting social entrepreneurship. Another is that research on motivation has been mostly conducted in countries where the social entrepreneurship environment is friendly, which has led to a greater focus on the personality of entrepreneurs at the expense of the social context. Through a qualitative approach, this study aims to explore motivation to become a social entrepreneur and motivation to keep being a social entrepreneur in the unfavorable conditions of the Czech social entrepreneurial environment. The summary results of a qualitative study among 27 entrepreneurs supported by the presentation of five mini‐stories describe how social entrepreneurs face obstacles and how they perceive the gradual changes in society that give them the motivation to stay in social entrepreneurship. We also identify eight motives for becoming a social entrepreneur and show how the motives intersect.