Social Entrepreneurship Research Research Articles

Gender and social entrepreneurship in turbulent waters: developing a gender-aware conceptual framework

PurposeThis paper identifies and maps themes and critiques emerging from feminist-informed and gender-focused mainstream entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship (SE) literature. We aim to develop a robust, theoretically informed gender-aware framework for future SE research.Design/methodology/approachA five-stage literature review process was undertaken to identify the common themes, key knowledge gaps and areas of contention highlighted by feminist critiques of mainstream entrepreneurship and what we refer to here as the “critical SE literature”. We draw on a widely used framework of epistemological approaches to discuss the emergent themes, specifically utilising three dominant epistemologies previously found to map onto entrepreneurship policy, those being: “gender as variable”, feminist standpoint and feminist poststructuralist positions.FindingsWe find feminist perspectives on SE particularly distinctive for their high reliance on relational and embedded accounts of the economy, more attentive to collectivist themes like “belongingness” in the performance of gender and identity, and maintaining a challenge to neoliberal and postfeminist norms. Anchoring each perspective in their respective epistemologies, we demonstrate their lineage in critiques of mainstream entrepreneurship and critical (non-feminist) SE. However, divergences from these lineages lead us to identify diversely contextualised and value-adding feminist accounts of SE that add richness and nuance to mainstream entrepreneurship theorising.Research limitations/implicationsThe relative “youth” of the gender-focused and feminist-informed SE literature, alongside the theoretical relevance of the feminist critique of mainstream entrepreneurship and critical social entrepreneurship literature, lead us to draw on the strengths of a more interpretivist paradigm in our research. This amplifies our ability to support the revelation of conceptual connections and relationships between emergent themes, theories, epistemologies and approaches drawn from multidisciplinary sources and to thereby enhance the reach, and associated value, of our research findings.Originality/valueThis review responds to calls for a gender-aware framework for social entrepreneurship research by (1) developing a set of original emergent themes, (2) tracing their intellectual lineage in associated research fields and (3) using them to deepen the connection between feminist epistemologies and entrepreneurship concepts.

The effect of collaborative governance in social startups on social performance: The mediating effect of economic performance

Our paper empirically confirms that collaborative governance in social startups affects social performance through mediating economic performance. While there is a growing literature on the sustainable growth and performance of social economy organizations, empirical research on social startups is very scarce. Therefore, this study can contribute to the knowledge of social economy and entrepreneurship research through an empirical study that identifies factors for social startups' performance. This study utilized data from 399 social startups that are commercial companies such as corporations, which are the legal form of startups in South Korea, and the results of the analysis are as follows. First, cooperative governance of social startups had a significant positive effect on economic performance, and social performance also had a significant positive effect. Second, the economic performance of social startups had a significant positive impact on social performance. Finally, collaborative governance in social startups affected social performance through the mediation effect of economic performance. The implications and insights of this study are as follows: First, we find that collaborative governance has a positive impact on both economic and social performance of social startups, and thus is a key factor in the success of social startups. Second, this study represents the first empirical study on the performance improvement of social startups and suggests collaborative governance as an important success factor for social startups.

The many socials: how a social enterprise uses social media to communicate social capital-based social value. A case study

Purpose This study responds to the need in social entrepreneurship research for more empirical studies to clarify the meaning of social value. Specially, it aims to explore the meaning of social value communicated on social media (SoMe) within the local context of a social enterprise (SE). Design/methodology/approach A multimodal social semiotic approach was applied to several hundred Facebook posts of a Finnish SE providing elderly care solutions, complemented by secondary data from high-quality press sources. Findings Building on Young’s (2006) dimensions of social value and Hidalgo et al.’s (2021) theorisation of social capital in social entrepreneurship, the authors find that an SE draws on multiple levels of social capital on SoMe to express the meaning of the social value it creates. Research limitations/implications Although limited to one case, this study provides a deep contextual understanding of how SEs can give meaning to social value and leverage social capital on SoMe to do so. Practical implications The authors offer a contextually embedded framework for SEs to communicate social value through media. This approach enables SEs to engage stakeholders more effectively and improve the quality of support for local initiatives. Social implications Improvements in SEs’ ability to communicate social value will increase their legitimacy, thus enhancing their prospects to survive and create sustained social value. Originality/value The authors strengthen the theoretical underpinnings of social value by being among the first to empirically describe its connection to social capital in an SE, thereby deepening previous studies on subjective social value. Methodologically, this study is the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to apply social semiotics to research on SEs.

Empowering Change: Innovations and Insights in Social and Emancipatory Entrepreneurship Research

Empowering Change: Innovations and Insights in Social and Emancipatory Entrepreneurship Research

Mapping Social Entrepreneurship Concepts through Bibliometric Analysis

Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a significant force in addressing societal challenges through entrepreneurial approaches aimed at creating sustainable solutions. Despite its growing interest, the conceptual framework of social entrepreneurship remains complex and multifaceted, with diverse interpretations and applications. This paper conducts a systematic bibliometric analysis to map the landscape of social entrepreneurship concepts, elucidating key themes, trends, and intellectual connections within the literature. Through advanced bibliometric techniques, including network analysis and thematic clustering, the study identifies seminal works, influential authors, and emerging research topics in the field. The analysis reveals shifts in research focus over time, from foundational concepts to the integration of technology and crowdsourcing methods. Furthermore, potential emerging research areas are identified, offering opportunities for future inquiry. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the conceptual landscape and intellectual structure of social entrepreneurship research, informing scholarly inquiry, policy formulation, and practical interventions in the field.

The Influence of Personality Traits on Social Entrepreneurship Intentions in the Moroccan Context

The main aim of this study is to investigate the intention of undergraduate students in Morocco to engage in social entrepreneurship. To achieve this, the research will adopt the theory of planned behaviour as the theoretical framework. The study extends the model by including entrepreneurial and pro-social personality traits as additional constructs. For that purpose, a survey was conducted on a sample of 300 young adults using a questionnaire. We find positive relationships between attitudes, perceived control, subjective norms, moral obligation, and social entrepreneurial intentions. Conversely, empathy did not have any influence on social entrepreneurial intentions, attitudes, or subjective norms. Overall, we contribute to the upcoming domain of social entrepreneurship research by investigating the relationship between entrepreneurial and pro-social personality traits and social entrepreneurial intention.

Trends in the Study of the Development of Social Entrepreneurship: Bibliometric Analysis

In recent years, social entrepreneurship has attracted increasing attention from the academic community. The main purpose of this article is to guide researchers in creating a theoretical framework and to direct researchers who are new to social entrepreneurship research so that they know which journals and authors to turn to when studying this phenomenon. The analysis of the structure and dynamics of social entrepreneurship research was carried out based on the Scopus database using the Biblioshiny and VOSviewer programs to determine the research areas with the highest results, countries, journals in which most research is published, and the most relevant authors with publications on social entrepreneurship.

Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment of Women Experiencing Homelessness and Gender Equality

The relationship between social entrepreneurship and social change continues to generate interest among researchers. We apply Kabeer’s conceptualisation of empowerment and additionally, explore intersectionality, paradox of empowerment and change agents for gender equality, to consider the practices of a social enterprise supporting the empowerment of women experiencing homelessness in the UK. We reflect on the motivations and drivers behind its work, the extent to which the women were able to access and control resources, and the change agents enabling this transformation. While the practices of the social enterprise in our case study positively affected women’s empowerment, they also bring to the fore several areas for reflection for social entrepreneurship research; the incorporation of intersectionality into advocacy for marginalised women such as those in our study, the role of male leaders in advancing gender empowerment and the need to find the delicate balance between empowerment on the one hand, and paternalism and suppression on the other.

Deepening Insights Into Social Entrepreneurship by Leveraging Service-Dominant Logic

Social entrepreneurs operate in highly complex social and institutional environments where dual economic and social missions create paradoxes, conflicts, and challenges. To achieve their goals, social entrepreneurs are frequently dependent on the resources and engagement of numerous other actors as diverse as funders, policymakers, accelerators, investors, volunteers, universities, supply chain partners, NGOs, and of course, customers and beneficiaries. To understand these complexities, a holistic and systemic perspective is required. In response, this study leverages the service-dominant (S-D) logic of marketing to offer a path to deepening insights in social entrepreneurship research. Specifically, the paper draws on four key concepts related to S-D logic that offer interesting avenues for future research: (1) service ecosystems, (2) value co-creation, (3) institutions and institutional arrangements, and (4) actor engagement. To enrich the conceptual arguments, illustrations are provided using the Melbourne-based social entrepreneurial collective, Moving Feast. The collective emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic and involved numerous social enterprise organisations, support organisations, funders, and community organisations. The paper concludes with a set of future research avenues.

Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship: Uncovering Themes, Trends, and Discourse

The world is marked by persistent and recurring socio-economic and environmental changes. The domains of social innovation and social entrepreneurship have gained prominence as catalysts for positive change and societal resilience. Despite the substantial body of literature assessing social innovation and social entrepreneurship, most studies address these topics through analyses of scientific production output or through systematic literature reviews. Conversely, the main objective of this paper is to conduct a thematic analysis of the existing scientific literature on social innovation and social entrepreneurship, published across various geographical contexts, to assess themes, trends, and discourse within these fields worldwide. Therefore, it synthesizes, analyzes, and evaluates the evolving landscape of social innovation and social entrepreneurship research over time, employing a sliding windows methodology. This approach divides the analyzed period into distinct times to meticulously track changes in themes and discourse over time. To accomplish this objective, this paper examines the evolving thematic dynamics of social innovation and social entrepreneurship within the scientific literature, serving as a driver and compelling researchers and practitioners to explore new dimensions in social innovation and social entrepreneurship. Evidence from the analysis is discussed, including the main theoretical and practical implications and proposals for future research. This paper emphasizes the importance of adaptive and resilient approaches within the domains of social innovation and social entrepreneurship and contributes to a deeper understanding of how social innovation and social entrepreneurship evolve and adapt over time, shedding light on the transformative potential of social innovation and social entrepreneurship.

Social entrepreneurial opportunity recognition among higher education students: scale development and validation

PurposeThis study aims to develop and validate a multidimensional scale to measure the motivating factors that lead to opportunity recognition in social entrepreneurship among higher education institute (HEI) students.Design/methodology/approachThe scale was developed through two phases; in phase 1, semi-structured interviews with social entrepreneurs and aspiring students were conducted to explore themes for item generation. Phase 2 included developing and validating the scale using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The sample included HEI students (n = 300 for EFA, n = 300 for CFA) with either academic background or volunteering experiences in social entrepreneurship.FindingsA 24-item scale is developed in the study, with six factors measuring the motivating factors influencing opportunity recognition in social entrepreneurship: life experiences, social awareness, social inclination, community development, institutional voids and natural option for a meaningful career.Research limitations/implicationsThe scale facilitates the development of theories and models in social entrepreneurship. The scale also enables policymakers and social entrepreneurship educators to understand the motivating factors that lead to opportunity recognition among students. It would help them to provide target-specific support to students.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to develop a scale that measures opportunity recognition in social entrepreneurship based on specific motivating factors. The study used the model by Yitshaki and Kropp (2016) as the conceptual framework. This study is the first attempt to triangulate the model’s findings using a quantitative methodology and through the development of a measurement scale. Besides, the scale adds value to social entrepreneurship research, which lacks empirical research on HEI students.

Unlocking the Factors That Motivate Social Entrepreneurs to Engage in Social Entrepreneurship Projects in Tanzania: A Qualitative Case Study

Social entrepreneurial ventures thrive on diverse motivations, evolving through stages. This research delved into the dynamic shifts in motivations guiding social entrepreneurs across projects and initiatives in Tanzania. Despite numerous attempts by scholars to study and theorize the motivations of social entrepreneurs, there remains a significant gap in understanding the primary focus of social entrepreneurs’ involvement in various social entrepreneurship projects. This research aimed to address this knowledge gap by exploring the motivations that drive social entrepreneurs in Tanzania to engage in social entrepreneurship ventures. The study specifically investigated the CHEMA and Gongali Model cases. The respondents consisted of 20 social entrepreneurs, with 9 from CHEMA and 11 from the Gongali Model. The findings highlight the influence of personal experiences and backgrounds in establishing innovative social enterprises, emphasizing the importance of achieving successful outcomes. The study suggests that social entrepreneurs are motivated not only by their individual needs and goals but also by the satisfaction derived from witnessing the positive impact of their work on others. Successful entrepreneurship, the study argues, requires a focus on effecting changes at both the macro and micro levels. When the intended purpose of social entrepreneurs is achieved, it serves as a significant indicator of success. The report delves deeper into how these findings influence the overall infrastructure and mindset of social entrepreneurs in Tanzania. This research introduces a novel motivational model and connects it with critical success characteristics in social innovation projects, contributing to the advancement of social entrepreneurship research. Additionally, it proposes fundamental innovations in governance and operations within the field of social entrepreneurship. From the organizational context perspective, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the factors that contribute to the formation and growth of social enterprises in Tanzania.

A Comparative Analysis of Social Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship: An Examination of International Co-Authorship Networks

This study aimed to identify the boundaries between social entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship research through conducting a comparative analysis of international co-authorship networks. Analyzing 29,510 papers published in the Web of Science database from 1999 to 2021, this study utilized bibliometric analysis to examine international co-authorship networks, the strength of international co-authorship, and the top collaborative and collaborating countries. The results found that based on quantitative analysis, social entrepreneurship research focuses more on local challenges and less on international collaboration as compared to entrepreneurship research. Moreover, the findings reveal the involvement of developed countries in the international co-authorship for social entrepreneurship research field. This study sheds light on the characteristics of social entrepreneurship research, which focuses on local and regional challenges. Contrastingly, entrepreneurship research focuses on the globalized field while sharing information and technology. These insights could benefit researchers, practitioners, and educators in prioritizing globalization in entrepreneurship and localization in social entrepreneurship.

Penalty or Reward? The Role of Hybrid Identities in Social Enterprises’ Resource Acquisition

Resource acquisition is important for social enterprises’ resilience. Prior studies have explored social enterprises’ hybridity and resource acquisition outcomes, but have ignored funders’ heterogeneity. This paper examines how the identities of both social enterprises and financial resource providers are associated with financial resource acquisition. We specifically study how social enterprises’ social and financial identities are related to the acquisition of financial resources. Using an international entrepreneurship database (2014–2019), we find that social enterprises receive financial support from equity investors in a similar way as pure for-profits, while social enterprises receive less support from philanthropic donors, compared to pure nonprofits. We discuss the implications for social entrepreneurship research and practice.

Convergences and divergences in sustainable entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship research: A systematic review and research agenda

Entrepreneurial ventures that explicitly address social and environmental issues have proliferated, together with diverse but strictly connected research streams and academic discussions around the phenomena of social entrepreneurship and sustainable entrepreneurship. However, while existing literature reviews address either social or sustainable entrepreneurship, studies systematizing the convergences and divergences of both sustainable and social entrepreneurship simultaneously in the academic literature are lacking. To fill this gap, the authors performed a systematic literature review covering the Scopus and Web of Science databases from 2001 to 2022. A total of 209 articles were reviewed, and thematic and lexical data analyses were conducted. As a result, convergences and divergences related to enablers, impact, business models, financial constraints, and fundraising instruments were identified. This article concludes by providing insights about knowledge gaps associated with the role of entrepreneurs, networks, impact measurement, business model innovation, and the capital structure of social and sustainable ventures.

From Evaluation to Valorising: Three Moments in the Making of Social Impact Value

Value creation is central to entrepreneurship. Within social entrepreneurship research, value is discussed in relation to impact assessment as either pertaining to the thing assessed or dependent on the assessor. These are two perspectives that are blind to the value creation effects of the impact assessment process itself. Following pragmatist developments in the sociology of valuation, the article examines social impact evaluation activities and their performative effects. Findings, based on an analysis of a nascent social venture’s efforts to assess impact, suggest that the very acts of evaluating value are implicated in enacting social and organisational value. As a result, the article calls for a shift in focus from merely social value metrics and perspectives to social valuation processes and practices. This analytical shift helps uncover the social and political dimensions inherent in social impact assessment processes.

Enhancing Methodological Rigour: Control Variable Utilisation and Reporting in Social Entrepreneurship Research

Social entrepreneurship research has increasingly adopted quantitative methodologies, reflecting the field’s evolution into mainstream academia. However, there remains a noted deficiency in rigorous hypothesis testing. Furthermore, instances abound that conventional entrepreneurship and management research often employ control variables in hypothesis testing without clear theoretical grounding or sufficient justifications, often relying on precedent. This study investigates how social entrepreneurship researchers incorporate and report control variables in their studies. A thorough examination of 78 empirical studies published from 2010 to 2023 in the Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and the Social Enterprise Journal reveals several key insights. The findings indicate that only about 60% of social entrepreneurship research integrates control variables, with a mere 34% providing a justification for their inclusion. Only 22% present a theoretically or empirically substantiated rationale, while a substantial 85% lack any justification for their chosen measurements. Furthermore, over 75% of studies do not specify the anticipated relationship between control and dependent variables. To enhance methodological rigour in social entrepreneurship research, this study provides critical recommendations for both researchers and reviewers through a decision tree. It emphasises the importance of grounding the application of control variables in robust theoretical and empirical foundations, rather than simply following precedent.

UNDERSTANDING EXPERIMENT-BASED SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP LITERATURE

Purpose- This study aims to analyze experimental methodology-based publications in social entrepreneurship, offering insights for researchers planning to undertake investigations in this area. Methodology- A thorough content analysis was conducted on 39 articles related to social entrepreneurship research. These articles, which employed experimental design, were identified through comprehensive searches of the ISI and Scopus databases. Findings- The findings reveal a growing interest in experimental design within social entrepreneurship research, focusing on topics such as donation and funding, sonsumer attitudes and behavior, intention and motivation and education and training. Conclusion- This study contributes to a better understanding of the experimental design research landscape in social entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for continued investigation and methodological advancements. Future research should address identified gaps and opportunities, such as the exploration of novel experimental techniques and the application of interdisciplinary perspectives to further enrich our understanding of social entrepreneurship. Keywords: Social entrepreneurship, experimental design, content analysis JEL Codes: L26, C90, A13

Exploring the Impact of Bonding, Bridging and Linking Social Capital on Scaling Social Impact: An Emerging Economy Perspective

Although past research has established the importance of social capital for scaling social impact, few studies have quantitatively explored such relationships in the context of emerging economies. To fill this gap, we examine how bonding, bridging and linking social capital impact scaling social capital in an emerging economy context. Using structural equation modelling with AMOS 23, we have conducted a survey and found that all bonding, bridging, and linking social capital are significantly and positively associated with scaling social impact. These findings of our study generate important theoretical and managerial contributions which would advance the social entrepreneurship research domain significantly.

No Simple Way to Say Goodbye! Untangling the Heterogeneity of Social Venture Founder Exit Intention

Using three theory-based performance criteria as decision attributes, we conducted a conjoint analysis experiment with 105 social venture founder-CEOs to examine their decisions to exit their firms voluntarily. Multilevel regression analysis of founders’ choices revealed that various exit preferences were chosen that did not support theoretical prescriptions. While achieving desired social impact was the main influence on founder exit choices, the heterogeneity of exit preferences led us to parcel them into four distinct groups: idealists, traditionalists, realists, and pragmatists. We discuss our contributions to the entrepreneurial exit and social entrepreneurship research literature and list the implications of our results for practice.