Social Business Research Articles

Analysing the Social Economy Business Survey Index (S-BSI): Development, Features, and Effectiveness in Social Economy Policymaking and Evaluation

This study delves into the Social Economy Business Survey Index (S-BSI), a tool designed to monitor the social and economic value generated within the social economy (SE) to furnish vital insights for timely public policy interventions. The study aims to comprehensively analyze the S-BSI, encompassing its development, distinctive features, and effectiveness as an advanced instrument for policymaking and evaluating the SE policy. The research methodology comprises an in-depth analysis of the S-BSI's development process, followed by multiple comparative analyses of similar surveys on a domestic and international scale. Furthermore, the study utilizes qualitative evaluation techniques grounded in the next-generation public policy framework for the SE sector. This multifaceted research approach aims to offer a holistic understanding of the S-BSI, delivering valuable insights tailored for policymakers and stakeholders engaged in shaping public policies for the SE.

Social Media Utilization of Microbusinesses in A Component City in Northern Philippines

Social media has become an essential marketing and communication tool for businesses of all sizes, offering opportunities to engage with customers and promote products in a cost-effective manner. This study explored the use of social media by microbusinesses in a component city in the Northern Philippines, focusing on the platforms used, reasons for adoption, benefits gained, and challenges encountered. A qualitative approach was employed, and 30 microbusiness owners from the service, merchandizing, and manufacturing sectors were selected through quota sampling. Data were collected using an interview guide and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s Thematic Analysis. The results show that Facebook was the most widely used platform, followed by Instagram and TikTok. The primary reason for using social media was to promote products and services. Benefits include wider market reach, increased sales, and improved communication. However, challenges such as market competition and time management difficulties were identified. Despite these hurdles, social media has proved to be a vital tool for business continuity, particularly during a pandemic. The study highlighted the critical role of social media in supporting the growth and sustainability of microbusinesses and recommended further research to explore other social media platforms and business sizes.

The Role of Social Capital on Consumer Behavior and Sustainability of Religious Business Units (Case Study of Waringin Store, Mataram City)

This research is aim to get a analyze social capital's impact on the sustainability of a business unit in the trade sector for ceremonial or religious activity products for Hindu communities. The data used is primary data obtained through in-depth interviews with a data triangulation method. The findings of the research indicate that there is a relationship between social capital and business sustainability, through Bourdieu's theory on how social capital can generate economic resources. The expression of socio-economic relationships is marked by activities in behaviors or actions that support social interaction, such as partnerships, activities characterized by networking participation, reciprocity (exchange or reciprocal activities between individuals or groups), trust, values, social norms, and proactive actions. The application of social capital in the case of Toko Waringin facilitates customers through access to a very strategic location, availability of products, and a variety of Hindu religious ceremonial supplies, with a good inventory system and flexible service times.

Marketing Communication Strategy for yeoboseyo.id: a Case Study in K-Pop Fashion Brand

The continuous growth of internet users in Indonesia since 2012 has had an impact, particularly on the use of social media. In 2023, 60.4% of the population in Indonesia was using social media. Instagram and TikTok are widely used for social networking and business marketing, including by the clothing brand Yeoboseyo.id. This study aims to examine the marketing communication strategies of Yeoboseyo.id from September 2023 to February 2024, using a quasi-qualitative method with semi-structured interviews and triangulation techniques for data validity. The results show that Yeoboseyo.id utilizes a marketing communication mix, including advertising on social media, conducting sales promotions by providing vouchers, freebies, and giveaways, and implementing public relations to maintain brand reputation. They also engage in personal selling to build consumer trust and direct marketing through one-step and two-step approaches to increase sales and maintain relationships with consumers. The conclusion of this study is that Yeoboseyo.id has effectively implemented its marketing communication strategy; however, there are still some areas that are not fully optimized, including the use of below-the-line promotion channels and the implementation of personal selling.

Societal Perceptions and Acceptance of Virtual Humans: Trust and Ethics across Different Contexts

This article examines public perceptions of virtual humans across various contexts, including social media, business environments, and personal interactions. Using an experimental approach with 371 participants in the United Kingdom, this research explores how the disclosure of virtual human technology influences trust, performance perception, usage likelihood, and overall acceptance. Participants interacted with virtual humans in simulations, initially unaware of their virtual nature, and then completed surveys to capture their perceptions before and after disclosure. The results indicate that trust and acceptance are higher in social media contexts, whereas business and general settings reveal significant negative shifts post-disclosure. Trust emerged as a critical factor influencing overall acceptance, with social media interactions maintaining higher levels of trust and performance perceptions than business environments and general interactions. A qualitative analysis of open-ended responses and follow-up interviews highlights concerns about transparency, security, and the lack of human touch. Participants expressed fears about data exploitation and the ethical implications of virtual human technology, particularly in business and personal settings. This study underscores the importance of ethical guidelines and transparent protocols to enhance the adoption of virtual humans in diverse sectors. These findings offer valuable insights for developers, marketers, and policymakers to optimise virtual human integration while addressing societal apprehensions, ultimately contributing to more effective and ethical deployment of virtual human technologies.

The dramaturgical infrastructure of counter-summitry – ethnographic insights from the Glasgow climate conference

ABSTRACT The annual UN climate conferences synchronize major social worlds, including politics, media, business, science, and law. They therefore attract anyone interested in high-profile performances such as protest action. With the post-Paris turn in global environmental governance, scholarly interest in theatrical aspects of climate governance is increasing. Activism at climate conferences, however, has not yet been studied through a dramaturgical lens. We propose the concept of ‘dramaturgical infrastructure’ to complement Goffman’s focus on self-presentation with the material and immaterial context beyond the micro-level of situated interactional practices. Based on fieldwork at the 2021 climate conference in Glasgow, we describe how activists draw on and mobilize a dramaturgical infrastructure of scripts, spaces, rituals, and requisites for their performances, and how this results in role-taking on the Glasgow stage. We identify the roles of the watchdog, the participant, the disrupter, and the connector, each with distinctive patterns of compliance with or distancing from post-Paris climate governance and the news media. The dramaturgical perspective suggests that climate conferences provide encounters that educate activists to be aware of the component of self-presentation in their activism and to design performances for high public, policy, and media attention.

Social media usage and sustainable performance in manufacturing supply chains: exploring dynamic capabilities

Due to the global impact of COVID-19, businesses and supply chains worldwide have been disrupted, leading to challenges for manufacturing firms and customers. Social media usage (SMU) is a vital and valuable tool that builds customer-centric supply chains by effectively communicating large volumes of valuable data. This study examines the influence of social media usage on the development of dynamic capabilities, including supply chain sensing capabilities (SCSC), knowledge sharing capability (KSC), and social capital (SC), which are crucial for constructing agile and resilient supply chains that can effectively respond to dynamic and turbulent environments, ultimately enhancing sustainable business performance. To assess the proposed investigation model, data was gathered through a structured questionnaire administered to supply chain members currently engaged with manufacturing firms. The evaluation of the proposed hypotheses is carried out through the application of structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of this study offer empirical evidence supporting the proposition that SMU within manufacturing firms promotes the development of sensing capabilities, knowledge-sharing capability, and social capital. Furthermore, this study tests the moderation role of environmental dynamism in the relationship between social media use and sustainable business performance. This underscores the pivotal role played by SMU in facilitating the adaptation and responsiveness of the supply chain to dynamic and uncertain environments, thereby contributing to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of organizations.

The Impact of Social Entrepreneurship on Market Mavericks: A Meta-Analysis

Numerous studies on the topic of social entrepreneurship and businesses have yielded a wide range of findings and publications. The purpose of this research is to provide a synopsis of previous work on this topic and to identify where the field is now and where it is heading. Consequently, the research on social entrepreneurship's potential to transform businesses was the subject of a bibliometric analysis. Several methods were employed in our search of the SCOPUS database, such as authors, study kinds, and keywords. Articles from different authors, institutions, and even nations are all part of this study's scope. There are several analysis applications used in bibliometric research, including VOS viewer (for data visualization) and Bibilomagika 2.2 (for frequency). Using the terms "social entrepreneurship" and "business" as search terms, 1272 publications were located between 2020 and 2024. The time frame of this research is five years. Most of the articles exhibit a pattern with both a growth and a fall, according to the analysis. But there will be a rise of 359 in 2023. With a total of 12 articles (0.94%) authored by Ratten, Vanessa was the most productive author in this study. The US, India, UK, Spain, and China are the most common bases for publications. Between the two journals, Sustainability (Switzerland) has published 93 papers and Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies has published 48. Research, national contributions, famous writers, and the most active journals on the subject can be better understood with the use of this study. The data collected can serve as a foundation for academics to fill knowledge gaps and chart a course for the field's future.

Forging Sustainable Development: Exploring the Impact of Green Initiatives and Corporate Social Responsibility

In today's industrial landscape, businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of integrating environmentally sustainable strategies to maintain competitiveness considering escalating environmental concerns. This study investigates the relationship between green practices, corporate social responsibility (CSR), managerial support, and sustainable business performance within Pakistan's service sector. Grounded in the resource-based view and stakeholder theory, the research employs a quantitative approach, surveying 506 participants across managerial levels from service sector. The findings underscore a positive correlation between green practices, CSR adherence, and sustainable performance. Notably, managerial support plays a pivotal role in translating green initiatives and CSR commitments into tangible sustainable outcomes. The widespread adoption of eco-friendly technologies within the service sector signifies a broader industry-wide shift towards sustainability. This study contributes valuable insights for academia, policymakers, industry professionals, and organizational leaders, shedding light on effective strategies for sustainable business practices. By aligning green initiatives with CSR objectives and leveraging managerial support, enterprises can position themselves as leaders in sustainable performance, thereby fostering value creation while addressing environmental challenges.

The Social Economy and Contemporary Challenges: Innovation and Sustainability

This article explores the relevance of the social economy in addressing contemporary challenges through innovative and sustainable practices, supported by public policies. The research investigates the management models that social and solidarity economy organizations (SSEOs) employ to respond to the challenges of innovation and sustainability. The study includes an in-depth analysis of diverse operational models and accomplishments across various cases, presenting evidence on how the sector adopts innovative and sustainable practices. The article scrutinizes essential characteristics of SSEOs, such as democratic governance, reinvestment of surpluses in social businesses based on innovation and entrepreneurship, and a strong community orientation. These characteristics are examined for their relevance in addressing issues like social inequalities, digital transformation, and climate change. Additionally, the research includes an examination of four diverse cases of SSEOs established in mainland Portugal. It reveals the wide range of activities and significant interactions that these organizations have with various stakeholders in different economic and social contexts, contributing to regional social innovation ecosystems. The empirical study, based on a descriptive case study methodology applied to multiple and heterogeneous cases (in terms of fields of intervention and scale of resources), demonstrates that sustainability has become a driver in the social economy, within a framework of democratic governance and community involvement. Moreover, the research fills a gap in empirical literature by providing strong evidence through real cases of collaborative social innovation, the integration of environmental, social, and governance practices, as well as financial and regulatory support from the state for the resilience of SSEOs. The social value of the research lies in its empirical contribution to demonstrating how social business is a crucial element for communities to address global challenges, promoting economic growth and employment, social justice, including the fight against poverty, and environmental sustainability.

Urban social infrastructure and care: Japanese examples

ABSTRACT In response to the crisis of care created by the neoliberal capitalist era, many new concepts have emerged as part of the collective search for solutions to the care crisis, including care commons, caring cities and caring infrastructures. Care infrastructures as part of the urban social infrastructure are understood in this work as “everyday non-institutional care spaces” (Merkel, 2023). This study focuses on the infrastructures of care in contemporary Japanese cities. Based on six months of fieldwork in Japan in the spring of 2023, it explores the potential of the socio-economic endeavors of mostly Japanese women in major Japanese cities as a care infrastructure to support the care needs of different social groups. The paper presents two cases as culturally specific examples of Japanese care infrastructure. It contributes to the literature by showing that care is intertwined with the economy as a new social business model in contemporary Japan, in a different way from the more volunteer-based care infrastructures in other countries.

Social enterprises and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a means to an end

AbstractGhana is regarded as one of the main nations driving social enterprise development in all of Africa, despite the lack of a policy for the social enterprise sub-sector. Regardless of these trailblazing initiatives, the sub-sector is still young and vulnerable. As a result, the time is right for the government to implement policy reforms to expedite the growth of the sub-sector, which offers an alternative business model for the achievement of the social and environmental goals embodied in the global goals. All nations are urged to take immediate action in response to the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which offer a global framework for achieving global development while balancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The methodology adopted is qualitative in nature, whereby focus group discussions were held, bringing together key stakeholders from the social enterprise sector, industry, academia, and civil society organisations (CSOs) to provide insights into how social enterprises will contribute to SDG achievement. This paper aims to generate new insights into how social enterprises can provide a solution to the UN’s SDGs from the Ghanaian perspective. Our findings reveal a strong link between solving social problems through social businesses and achieving the SDGs, and that social enterprises represent an ideal business model for achieving the SDGs. Their mission-driven approach, innovative solutions, focus on empowerment and inclusion, utilisation of market mechanisms, collaboration and partnership, and understanding and knowledge of local contexts collectively position social enterprises as powerful catalysts for sustainable development.

The Impact of Green Business Ethics and Green Financing on Sustainable Business Performance of Industries in Turkey: The Mediating Role of Corporate Social Responsibility

The purpose of this research is to understand the relationship between green business ethics, green finance, and sustainable business performance, and to evaluate the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in this relationship. The impact of the damage inflicted on nature’s functioning order is being felt much more strongly today. In light of these realities, companies must emphasize sustainability principles not just out of financial concerns but as a result of corporate social responsibility. In this context, focusing on the role of corporate social responsibility in sustainable business performance is the main goal of this research. Quantitative research methods, specifically the cross-sectional survey method, were employed for data collection and analysis. For this purpose, a convenience sampling method was used to select 427 white-collar employees working in industries operating in Türkiye as the sample for this study. The data collected through surveys were analyzed using the AMOS 24 statistical program. The findings underscore that green business ethics and green finance have a significant impact on corporate social responsibility and sustainable business performance. Additionally, it was determined that corporate social responsibility plays an intermediary role in shaping sustainable business performance. These findings are expected to provide an important foundation that can guide both employees and managers in developing awareness about green policies and sustainability, emphasizing the importance of green policies in working life.

Waqf Business Model (WBM): Towards A Sustainable Social Business Model on The Mainstream Economics

The Waqf Business Model (WBM) represents an innovative and transformative approach to establishing a sustainable social business model within mainstream economics, rooted in Islamic economic principles. This paper explores the current state of waqf as an alternative model for social business, emphasizing its ability to combine social impact with long-term economic sustainability by preserving assets and generating ongoing revenue. It also advocates for integrating WBM into the mainstream economy to serve as a powerful mechanism for addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper highlights the challenges faced by traditional Islamic economic institutions, particularly waqf, which have struggled due to outdated management practices and a conceptual crisis regarding the role of waqf in modern economies. Revitalizing waqf institutions requires enhancing their capabilities and aligning them with contemporary business strategies. Additionally, this paper encourages future research to explore how WBM can be fully integrated into the existing economic ecosystem. In theory, WBM provides a framework for ethical and inclusive economies, while in practice, it has the potential to create self-sustaining institutions that reduce reliance on external aid, offering an innovative solution to global socio-economic challenges by blending sustainable innovation.

Microblog Negative Comments Data Analysis Model Based on Multi-scale Convolutional Neural Network and Weighted Naive Bayes Algorithm

As a form of public supervision, Microblog’s negative reviews allow people to share their opinions and experiences and express dissatisfaction with unfair and unreasonable phenomena. This form of supervision has the potential to promote social fairness, drive governments, businesses, and individuals to correct mistakes and enhance transparency. To characterize the sentiment trend and determine the influence of Microblog negative reviews, we propose a multi-scale convolutional neural network and weighted naive bayes algorithm (MCNN–WNB). We define the feature vector characterization index for Microblog negative review data and preprocess the data accordingly. We quantify the relationship between attributes and categories using the weighted Naive Bayes method and use the quantification value as the weighting coefficient for the attributes, addressing the issue of decreased classification performance in traditional methods. We introduce a sentiment classification model based on word vector representation and a multi-scale convolutional neural networks to filter out Microblog negative review data. We conduct simulation experiments using real data, analyzing key influencing parameters such as convergence time, training set sample size, and number of categories. By comparing with K-means, Naive Bayes algorithm, Spectral Clustering algorithm and Autoencoder algorithm, we validate the effectiveness of our proposed method. We discover that the convergence time of the MCNN–WNB algorithm increases as the number of categories increases. The average classification accuracy of the algorithm remains relatively stable with varying test iterations. The algorithm’s precision increases with the number of training set samples and eventually stabilizes.

From Foundation to Impact: Key Processes for Designing Non-Profit Scientific Associations

Introduction: The article discusses the importance of designing nonprofit scientific associations, highlighting the difference between foundations and corporations, and provides a framework for developing resilient, adaptive NGOs committed to their social objectives.Method: A reflective analysis of the regulatory and conceptual framework for establishing nonprofit scientific associations, comparing foundations and corporations, exploring a social impact business model, and offering recommendations to strengthen innovation and democratic governance in these organizations.Results: The development of a nonprofit Scientific Civil Association involves three key stages: defining its organizational identity, selecting a committed board of directors, and designing a social impact business model. These elements, along with proper legal and fiscal structuring, ensure its viability, innovation, and commitment to its social objectives. Conclusions: This procedure guides the creation of resilient Scientific Civil Associations by differentiating between foundations and corporations, promoting democratic structures, and utilizing the Canvas model for social impact, ensuring legal compliance, innovation, and lasting impact.

The Influence of Social Media Marketing on Consumers Behavior

Social media advertising's perceived utility, simplicity of use, entertainment, intrusiveness, andfrequency of use have been determined to be the most important elements influencing consumers'attitudes toward social media advertising, according to a new study. Customers' attitudes about socialmedia advertising are influenced by their perceptions of how easy it is to use. Consumers' attitudes towardsocial media advertising are influenced by factors such as perceived utility and intensity of social mediause, business reputation and incentives, perceived ad entertainment, perceived commercial intrusion, andpeer influence. Consumers' behavior regarding social media advertising, their intention to engage in eWOMbehaviors, their intention to visit the websites of firms, and their purchase intents were shown to haveno significant moderating influence on each other.

The Transformation of Kizukai Habitus on Asian Trainee in Japan: Striving and Competition of Labor Market in ASEAN

In the 1990s, Japan faced a severe economic downturn known as the "Lost Decade." To address labor shortages and strengthen economic and political ties with developing nations, the Japanese government has initiated a trainee program to provide individuals from developing countries in Asia with the opportunity to gain work experience in Japan for three years. The research aims to explore the impact of Japan's trainee program on participants who left Japan between 2000 and 2010. Specifically, it investigates how these individuals adapt to Japanese society through the concept of ‘kizukai’ (empathy and concern for others) and examines their success in establishing businesses in their home countries. The research employs an ethnographic approach, utilizing direct interviews and a literature review. The ethnographic method, utilizing direct interviews with former trainees, offers qualitative insights into their social adaptation, business success, and engagement with Japanese cultural practices, enriching the understanding of their lived experiences. The literature review complements this by providing a theoretical framework, particularly Bourdieu's theories of habitus, field, and capital, to analyze the changes in trainees' behaviors and their impact on business practices. The research finds that many trainees have successfully integrated into Japanese society by internalizing Hiroyuki Inoue's concept of kizukai. This integration plays a significant role in their entrepreneurial success upon returning to their home countries, where they establish prosperous businesses. The findings suggest that while the trainee program has shortcomings, it contributes to strengthening international economic relations and offers lessons for improving future trainee programs.

A Social Constructionist Critique of Genetic Determinism

ABSTRACTRecently genetic determinist claims have reappeared in the explanation of human psychology and to some extent they even made their way into explanations of social phenomena. In this article, I will provide a critical analysis of the genetic determinist discourse from a social constructionist perspective. First, I will examine the meaning of genetic determinism. Then I will shortly introduce the social constructionist perspective generally and it's relevance for analyzing scientific discourses. Next, I will examine the debates about genetic determinism in behavior genetics and sociogenomics and interpret these critically from a social constructionist and deconstructionist perspective. Finally, I will provide an analysis of the main social, ideological, cultural and economic factors that influence the development of genetic determinist ideas: modernity, the legitimation of social hierarchies, neoliberalism and business interests. My conclusion is that the social constructionist perspective is important in the analysis and critique of the genetic determinist discourse.

Evaluating community-embedded elder care: A case study of supply and demand in Hangzhou, China.

With China's urbanization and demographic shifts significantly affecting elder care, this study examines the alignment of community-based elder care services in Hangzhou's Hemu Community. It addresses the gap in understanding how these services meet the needs of an aging population in a rapidly changing social context. A comprehensive mixed-methods approach was utilized, involving interviews with community residents, observations of elder care service operationsand thorough document analysis. The objective was to evaluate the adequacy, utilizationand satisfaction levels concerning these elder care services. The research identified that, although the services generally meet the community's needs, there are notable challenges in content specificity, quality assuranceand promotional efforts. These challenges lead to resistance among older adults. Additionally, issues with service visibility and the lack of robust feedback mechanisms were noted. This study highlights the critical need for a cooperative strategy involving government, community organizations, social entitiesand businesses in enhancing elder care services. It suggests that improvements in service visibility, content qualityand targeted promotion are crucial to address the evolving needs of the aging population and to reduce reluctance in service utilization.