Marketing in the social enterprise context: is it entrepreneurial?

2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Entrepreneurial Marketing ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Local Embeddedness ◽  
Marketing Activities ◽  
The Uk

This paper presents some of the findings to emerge from a qualitative study of social enterprise in the UK. The findings discussed in this paper refer to the marketing activities of social enterprises and consider the extent to which these can be described as “entrepreneurial”. This discussion suggests that while social enterprises do engage in entrepreneurial marketing, the local embeddedness of their activities, their not‐for‐profit orientation and challenges posed by social exclusion impact on their marketing activities.

scholarly journals The distinctive challenges and opportunities for creating leadership within social enterprises

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad Jackson ◽  
Matthew Nicoll ◽  
Michael J. Roy
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Leadership Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Legal Forms

Purpose The purpose of this study is to present a systematic assessment of the distinctive challenges and opportunities associated with creating leadership within the realm of social enterprise. A modified and expanded form of Grint’s leadership lenses heuristic framework (i.e. person, position, process, performance, purpose and place) is used to examine and highlight what is particular about creating leadership in social enterprises by virtue of their distinctive missions, strategic contexts, legal forms and organisational structures and cultures. Based on this initial exploration, five research priorities are identified to better understand and then develop leadership practice in the social enterprise realm. Design/methodology/approach An enhanced heuristic framework for systematically examining leadership within the social enterprise research literature has been applied, drawing on the leadership practice literature. The application is illustrated through six instrumental case studies. Findings While there are a number of similarities between leading in the social enterprise realm and leading within the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, the levels of complexity, ambiguity and the lack of an established theoretical and practical knowledge base makes creating leadership in the social enterprise sector that much more challenging. On the positive side of the ledger, the fact that the purpose is at the core of social enterprise means that it is relatively easier to use the purpose to create a basis for common meaningful action, compared to leadership within the private and public sectors. Related to this, given the strongly local or “glocal” nature of social enterprise, a ready opportunity exists for leaders to draw upon a place as a strategic resource in mobilising followers and other stakeholders. The novel, uncertain and pioneering nature of a social enterprise is also arguably more tolerant and accommodating of a leadership mindset that focuses on posing questions regarding “wicked” problems compared to public, private for-profit and, indeed, traditional not-for-profit sector organisations. Originality/value As far as we can ascertain, this is the first systematic attempt to examine the distinctive challenges and opportunities associated with creating leadership within the social enterprise realm. The application of the heuristic framework leads to the identification of five key inter-related lines of empirical research into leadership practices within social enterprises.

Enterprise and care

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Needham ◽  
Kerry Allen ◽  
Kelly Hall
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Delivery Models ◽  
Micro Enterprises

This chapter focuses on enterprise and care considering the contribution that new delivery models such as social enterprises make within public services more broadly and care in particular. The chapter also considers the ambiguity of the social enterprise label and its capacity to be claimed by a range of governance types, including the for-profit as well as the not-for-profit. The chapter then draws together the evidence on micro-enterprises into four research hypotheses that are tested in later chapters of the book, through qualitative and quantitative research. These are derived from the policy claims that are made by proponents of micro forms of service delivery: that micro-enterprises are more personalised, innovative, cost-effective and outcomes-oriented than larger organisations.

Applying Business Solutions to Social Problems

2017 ◽  
pp. 139-164
Author(s):  
Martyna Wronka-Pośpiech
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Conceptual Level ◽  
For Profit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Case Based

Although research on social entrepreneurship has been expanding in recent years, the literature regarding business models in the context of social enterprises is still limited. This chapter explores the issues of business models in both profit and nonprofit contexts and discusses how value, being both the foundation and the overall outcome of the business model employed, is created. It begins with the background on the characteristics of social enterprises. This is followed by the conceptualization of business models and their components designed to account for their unique. Then a case to illustrate it is presented. The objective of the chapter is twofold. First, it is to analyse how nonprofit business models are different from its for profit counterparts (at the conceptual level) and to introduce relevant analytical framework. Secondly, the chapter aims at providing a case based on the particular model of a social enterprise in Poland (social co-operative) in order to investigate whatever the business models for profit firms could be applied in the social enterprises.

Delineating novel aspects of social enterprise theory

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J. Murphy ◽  
Artem Kornetskyy ◽  
Joseph T. Nixon
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ventures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Enterprise Theory

Purpose Social enterprises are defined in practice in terms of one operational model generating measurable value in more than one of the economic, social and natural/ecological value denomination categories. However, entrepreneurship theory does not generally or explicitly reflect this definition, which has generated confusion about the social enterprise concept. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to social enterprise theory by delineating novel aspects of this definition and their conceptual ramifications. Design/methodology/approach The authors review the social enterprise literature with a focus only on the most original contributions and most distinct research questions. The authors do not explicitly review research on traditional for-profit entrepreneurial ventures, not-for-profit/non-governmental organizations or mainstream social entrepreneurial ventures. Findings The authors offer several implications for social enterprise theory based on practices that are unique to the area but not amenable other areas of entrepreneurship. The contribution is instrumental to establishing social enterprise as a distinct theoretic area. Originality/value By focusing on novel aspects of social enterprise not easily explainable by mainstream theoretic traditions, the authors offer an original contribution to the development of social enterprise theory.

scholarly journals Corporate governance practices and outcomes in social enterprises in the UK

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Mswaka ◽  
Olu Aluko
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Mission ◽  
The Social ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Governance Models ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Enterprise Governance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the growth of social enterprise in the UK in the context of the renewed interest in the creative use of organisations with a social mission to complement public service delivery. Given the impact of globalisation and increased demands for effective social welfare interventions, this paper specifically focuses on the nature and type of social enterprise governance models and how they influence their outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – The study utilises a mixed method approach involving the complementary use of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Findings – The paper finds that the way in which the social enterprise governance structure is designed ultimately influences its outcomes. In particular, those with stewardship governance models tend to perform better than those with democratic models of governance. This leads to a conclusion that in the social context of the UK, social enterprise should aim for a paradigm shift in the design and selection of governance models. Research limitations/implications – Comparative regional experiences in other regions or social contexts could enrich our understanding of whether these results are applicable across the board. Practical implications – This paper is of potential benefit to researchers and particularly those designing policies for the governance of social enterprise. Originality/value – The study employs innovative analytical theoretical lenses not normally associated with the social economy, namely agency, stewardship and resource dependency theories to provide a more in-depth analysis of the governance of contemporary social enterprise.

Marketing and social enterprises: implications for social marketing

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Mitchell ◽  
Judith Madill ◽  
Samia Chreim
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Strategic Marketing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Legitimacy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Institutional Influences ◽  
Marketing Activities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to build understanding of the concept of social enterprise in the social marketing community and to report on empirical research designed to develop an understanding the perceptions and practices of marketing within social enterprises. This addresses a significant gap in the current literature base and also provides insights for social marketers seeking to pursue social change initiatives through social enterprise. Design/methodology/approach – This empirical investigation uses a qualitative investigation of 15 social enterprises informed by a grounded theory approach. Researchers conducted interviews with senior decision-makers responsible for marketing activities and strategic policy, and gathered additional data regarding the organizations in the form of archival materials, including strategic planning documents, promotional materials and firm-generated online content. Findings – Strategic marketing practices used by social enterprises are shaped by moral, pragmatic and cognitive legitimacy influences stemming from imperatives to achieve congruence with institutional norms. This study exposes the challenges social enterprises face in developing strategic marketing activities that address business needs, while balancing stakeholder interests linked to the social missions of such organizations. Research limitations/implications – This qualitative study pursues depth of understanding through focused investigation of a small, regional sample of Canadian social enterprises. The findings demonstrate that social enterprises are similar to both not-for-profit and small- and medium-sized firms in terms of their marketing approaches, but face particular institutional legitimacy challenges when developing and implementing strategic marketing activities. Practical implications – This paper highlights the influences of institutional legitimacy on marketing practices and approaches in social enterprises. Understanding these influences is crucial for social marketing practitioners, as they develop strategic activities. The findings from the research provide a baseline upon which to begin to build both our theoretical and practical understanding of the potential utilization of social marketing through social enterprises. Social implications – Understanding the challenges social enterprises face in developing their strategic marketing activities provides deeper insights into social enterprises for social marketers, who might consider using social marketing in such organizations to achieve social change. Originality/value – This paper offers empirical evidence grounded in depth investigations of 15 social enterprises operating in a Canadian context. The findings help to extend our understanding of the complex institutional influences impacting marketing practices within social enterprise organizations. These institutional influences help to attune social marketers to the potential opportunities and challenges of using social enterprise as an organizational form for launching social marketing programs.

scholarly journals Financial accounting for the common good – from a social economy perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Maureen McCulloch
Keyword(s):  
Common Good ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Allocation Of Resources ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Social

This thesis is a pragmatic exploration of concepts to be found in social economy organisations with a view to improving the connection between financial accounting practice and organisational impact in the social and physical world. It approaches financial accounting from a social economy perspective. The research draws on ideas from Aristotle, contrasting the pursuit of wealth for its own sake – chrematistics – with the pursuit of the wise allocation of resources towards a good society in which people can flourish – economics. It also uses Kantian concepts of creative agency and experience as essentially limited and emergent, to discuss the inevitability of diverse views of flourishing. The study develops through three stages. First, there is a qualitative case study exploration of ideas of purpose found in a range of social enterprises. Second, there is analysis of the findings using theories drawn from development studies and sociology. Third, there is a discussion of the implications for current practice in accounting for financial resources, specifically contrasting not for profit accounting with for profit accounting. The findings suggest that the social economy accommodates myriad possible purposes, both macro and micro, within and between organisations, with the organisational macro purpose acting as the internal orchestrator of other priorities. Our current not for profit formats and systems for financial accounting, if understood in non-philanthropic, multiple macro and micro purposes terminology, provide a starting point for the development of financial accounting as a tool for Aristotelian economics; for the allocation of resources to meet diverse needs and interests. The study contributes to critical accounting research, particularly the strand focused on flourishing, from the perspective of the social economy. It shows that the multiple purposes approach, by accommodating choice of organisational macro purpose, can encompass profit as a macro purpose but the for profit approach is too narrow to accommodate any other purpose. It demonstrates that we already have in practice a broader, more flexible way of accounting for financial resources than for profit accounting, and suggests that this approach should be recognized and further developed.

scholarly journals Social Enterprise Places: A Place-Based Initiative Facilitating Syntactic, Semantic and Pragmatic Constructions of Legitimacy

2021 ◽  
pp. 027614672110407
Author(s):  
Anthony John Samuel ◽  
Gareth Reginald Terence White ◽  
Ken Peattie ◽  
Robert Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Social Goals ◽  
Boundary Object ◽  
The Social ◽  
Economic Good ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Over Time

Social Enterprises are becoming a significant force of social as well as economic good despite facing many difficulties that are brought about by their unique characteristics. Chief among these is the question of their perceived legitimacy that impinges upon their ability to gain funding, acquire contracts and appear as capable organisations to potential partnering institutions. This study explores the means by which Social Enterprises are legitimized through participation in the Social Enterprise Place (SEP) programme in the UK. By examining the Boundary Objects (BO) that span the intersections of the incumbent social groups it identifies three pillars upon which SEPs have facilitated SE legitimacy. These pillars comprise (i) the place-based language (syntactic BO), that enables the identification of (ii) common social goals (semantic BOs), and thereby enables the (iii) mobilization of resources toward their resolution (pragmatic BOs). This research provides insight into the facilitation of legitimacy for Social Enterprises that are engaged in a place-based initiative. By responding to Peterson’s (2016) call for macromarketers to take more note of meso level marketing dynamics in different industries the paper highlights the potential for place to facilitate the legitimacy of SEs. In addition, it reveals a further macromarketing dimension to Boundary Object plasticity whereby they may evolve through syntactic, semantic and pragmatic forms over time.

scholarly journals On the modeling of a national encyclopedic-and-educational service

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 31-39
Author(s):  
Serhii Boltivets
Keyword(s):  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Social Model ◽  
Council Of Europe ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Start Up ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk ◽  
To Receive ◽  
International Social

The article defends the necessity to establish a national help service titled Navchannia Navprostets (Learn Direct). It would be a not-for-profit telephone line based on modern encyclopedias of Ukraine. The creation of such a service is justified by the Lifelong Learning as an international social movement, which in Ukraine is supervised by the Ukrainian Coordination Bureau of the International Public-State Program Adult Education in Ukraine. The concept of lifelong learning is upheld by the scientifically explained idea of a person’s ability to learn at any age. It has been identified by the Council of Europe as an important component of the social model of Europe. Accordingly, one of the tasks of the European states is to ensure the citizens’ aspirations for development and to receive lifelong education. The idea to start up a national help service in Ukraine is based on the experience of European countries, first of all, we mean a service in the UK (Learndirect).

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