A study on the process and mechanism of social enterprise’s legitimation

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-252
Author(s):  
Siqi Xu ◽  
Youmin Xi
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Niche Construction ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mechanism Model ◽  
Organization Ecology ◽  
Complete Process

Purpose This paper aims to explore the complete process and underlying mechanism that social enterprises obtain legitimacy during interactions with stakeholders from theoretical integration of institutional theory and organization ecology perspective. Design/methodology/approach Based on theoretical classification, this paper selects six typical Chinese social enterprises and conducts a multi-case analysis. Findings The study finds that social enterprises aim at legitimizing single entity or industry and shaping stakeholders’ cognitive boundary simultaneously. Therefore, by adopting constrained cooperation and competition activities, social enterprises use normative isomorphism to achieve personal legitimation and combining ecological niche construction, social enterprises achieve organizational legitimation. By adopting fragmented cooperation-dominant or competition-dominant activities, social enterprises use mimic isomorphism supplemented by competitive isomorphism or population structure creation to obtain industry legitimation. By adopting dynamically integrated coopetition activities, social enterprises use mimic isomorphism and reflexive isomorphism to reach field legitimation. Originality/value This paper proposes a mechanism model that the coopetition with stakeholders influences the legitimation process, identifies four stages of social enterprise’s legitimation process and the types of legitimacy obtained in each stage and fills the gap of Chinese indigenous social enterprise research.

Social enterprise in Rwanda: an overview

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Remy Rwamigabo
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mutual Help ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Current Governance

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the context, the concept and the main types of social enterprises in Rwanda, and to present its main institutional and contextual trajectories. Design/methodology/approachThe author carried out a literature review and interviews. Six categories were identified; each one is illustrated by one emblematic case. FindingsThe paper presents the evolution of economically oriented social organizations in Rwanda, mostly under the form of cooperatives and NGOs and with inspiration from traditional forms of mutual help. The context of emergence of social enterprise in Rwanda was shaped, among other factors, by Anglo-Saxon influence. Other factors include notably the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, the current governance prevailing in the country and the current entrepreneurships trends. The paper also underlines the absence of research on the subject in Rwanda. Six categories of social enterprises in Rwanda and their main features have been identified and analyzed, namely, NGOs, cooperatives, informal organizations, social entrepreneurs, public/private partnerships and companies carrying out social activities. Finally, the paper analyzes the institutional and contextual trajectories of social enterprise in Rwanda. Originality/valueThe paper explores and provides insights into the specificities and the current trends of social enterprise in Rwanda with a view to fostering further analysis for several research avenues.

scholarly journals Action research and participatory democracy in social enterprise

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janne Gleerup ◽  
Lars Hulgaard ◽  
Simon Teasdale
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Participatory Democracy ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Problems ◽  
Intrinsic Characteristic

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to the Nordic tradition of Critical Utopian Action Research (CUAR) and to demonstrate how CUAR might reinvigorate participatory democracy as an intrinsic characteristic of social enterprise. This leads us to sketch out the beginnings of how researchers might work with communities to help realise their democratic impulses through social enterprise. Design/methodology/approach This paper aims to synthesise the participatory action research literature, particularly CUAR, with literature on social enterprise and democracy to demonstrate how the two approaches might fruitfully be combined. Findings The authors show how CUAR might be utilised by researchers, to articulate new social enterprise organisational responses to local problems or to reinvigorate democracy within existing social enterprises. Originality/value This exploratory paper marks (we believe) the first attempt to bring together social enterprise and CUAR.

Social enterprise in South Korea

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deok Soon Hwang ◽  
Wonbong Jang ◽  
Joon-Shik Park ◽  
Shinyang Kim
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Social Goals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Background ◽  
Broad Array ◽  
Enterprise Models ◽  
Work Integration

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the socio-economic background and development of social enterprises in Korea and identify representative social enterprise models. Design/methodology/approachThe typology used in this study focuses on the interaction between civil society, the state and the market in their efforts to solve social problems. As a result, the typology is mainly related with social goals, although the organizational form is also taken into consideration when selecting representative social enterprises in each type so as to present a broad array of developmental histories. FindingsThis paper identified four types of social enterprises: work integration social enterprises; social service provision social enterprises; regional regeneration social enterprises; and alter-economy social enterprises. These types are not immutable; another form of social enterprise might emerge to address a new social issue and lead to a new strand of similar social enterprises. Originality/valueThis study found that the goals of social enterprises in Korea share common characteristics with those of social enterprises in European countries. Another outstanding feature of Korean social enterprises is that most social enterprises other than work integration social enterprises also regard work integration or job creation for the disadvantaged people as one of their important social missions.

Social enterprises operating in the South Wales valleys: a Delphi study of persistent tensions

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Samuel ◽  
Gareth R.T. White ◽  
Paul Jones ◽  
Rebecca Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Study ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Deprivation ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Extant Literature ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Uk

Purpose This paper aims to examine the factors that influence and collectively conspire to inhibit social enterprises’ abilities to flourish in geographies of economic and social deprivation. Drawing upon the extant literature, it deploys a Delphi study to rank the relative importance of these factors. Design/methodology/approach A two-round Delphi study has been used to assess the relative importance of the issues that beset social enterprises. The research panel consisted of owner-managers of nine social enterprises from South Wales (UK). Findings The findings indicate that the prime challenge faced by social enterprise owner-managers is balancing their dual mission. The difficulties faced in delivering social value while remaining financially viable is one that appears to impinge upon the other strategic and operational challenges they face. Research limitations/implications The generalizability of this study that utilizes expert insight is dependent upon the nature of the panel. In this instance, social enterprise owner-managers studied operated within a socially deprived region of the UK. The relative influence of the tensions that affect social enterprises in less impoverished areas of the UK or other geographies may well differ. Originality/value Drawing upon the extant literature that examines the tensions that surround social enterprises, the prevailing factors are considered and ranked of significance. The resulting ranking provides a crystallised vantage point for policy and support. This could be used to better inform the allocation of resources to facilitate a favourable eco system capable of supporting social enterprises who operate in areas troubled by economic and social deprivation.

scholarly journals Re-imagining social enterprise

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Kay ◽  
Michael J. Roy ◽  
Cam Donaldson
Keyword(s):  
Economic System ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Viable Alternative ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
The Social ◽  
Just Society

Purpose This intentionally polemical paper will aim to re-examine what is meant by social enterprise and try to assert its role within the current economic system. It is well over a decade since John Pearce’s Social Enterprise in Anytown was first published. Since then the term “social enterprise” has been used in multiple ways by politicians, practitioners and academics – very often for their own ideological ends. Design/methodology/approach This paper will outline the context and challenges currently facing social enterprise both from outside and from inside the social enterprise movement. Findings This paper re-affirms a paradigm for social enterprises through re-imagining how social enterprise should and could contribute to the creation of a fairer and more just society. Originality/value Finally, this paper will conclude with a reflection on what Pearce argued and how the social enterprise movement has to position itself as a viable alternative way of creating goods and services based on socially responsible values.

Exploring public universities as social enterprises

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 404-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan P. Miles ◽  
Martie-Louise Verreynne ◽  
Andrew McAuley ◽  
Kevin Hammond
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
University Education ◽  
Market Place ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Australian Universities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how universities attempt to balance meeting their traditional mission of education, research and community engagement while remaining economically sustainable. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted in 2014 of university executives and found that universities in Australia are rapidly transitioning from public supported institutions to an organizational form much more like social enterprise, with all of the organizational, marketing and ethical ramifications. Findings Australian universities were found to be focused on maintaining financial viability and that the most significant source of future revenue for Australian universities is perceived to be from international students. Originality/value The findings have tremendous public policy and ethical implications – suggesting a shift in the classification of university education from what was generally considered a public good to what is increasingly perceived as a private good in the contemporary market place, with the increasing importance of international students.

Legitimizing profit

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 5-7
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Business Model Innovation ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Enterprise Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Social enterprises in China are becoming a growing segment of the market, due to an increasing need for China to act in the best interests of its own society. This review looks at how business model innovation can help social enterprise performance. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

The social enterprise as a space of well-being: an exploratory case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah-Anne Munoz ◽  
Jane Farmer ◽  
Rachel Winterton ◽  
Jo Barraket
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ethnographic Observation ◽  
Australian Case ◽  
Health And Well Being

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an Australian case study and to explore how social enterprises may be conceptualised as spaces of well-being, that is the ways in which social enterprises, not explicitly delivering health services, may be producing health and well-being benefits for those who come into contact with them. Design/methodology/approach – A case study in Australia is used to explore in depth the mechanisms of well-being production. Data were collected using ethnographic observation, focus groups and walking interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, GIS and the lens of therapeutic assemblage. Findings – The case study social enterprise produces well-being as integration, capability, security and therapy. The social enterprise acts as a therapeutic assemblage with well-being “spoken”, “practiced” and “felt” within the social enterprise. The ways in which well-being is generated are often linked to the productive element of enterprise – and have the potential to contribute to tackling several contemporary health challenges and inequalities relating to, for example, a lack of physical activity and levels of social isolation. Research limitations/implications – This paper draws on a single Australian case study but points to the need for further in-depth work in the area of social enterprise and health. Originality/value – The paper advances our understanding of how social enterprises may be linked to health and well-being. It goes beyond quantification of, for example, number of clients helped, to consider the wider experience of well-being for those who come into contact with social enterprises.

Pulling back the curtain on the psychology of becoming a social entrepreneur

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Social Entrepreneur ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This research paper determines the motivating factors that cause entrepreneurs to start a social enterprise instead of a traditional business model. The results reveal that these motivations span a wide spectrum, ranging from pure altruism and a values-led yearning to make a difference to communities, to an opportunistic identification of an autonomy-rich opportunity that compliments their life priorities and supplies income. This spectrum introduces complexity into the social enterprise transition journey, because people start social enterprises based on different circumstantial internal dialogues about their future. Consequently, some blending of different motivations along the spectrum can be expected. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Evaluation of social enterprise outcomes and self-efficacy

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Urban
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Efficacy

Purpose – Understanding of social values is emerging, particularly as the phrases “social impact” and “social value” and the measurement thereof, are ubiquitous in both practitioner and academic discourse today. These terms are particularly relevant to those involved in social initiatives that are required at some stage to demonstrate to stakeholders, investors, funders, or simply themselves that they have the capability to deliver. The purpose of this paper is to link the evaluation of social enterprise outcomes to individual efficacy beliefs. Design/methodology/approach – The study is survey based (165 respondents) and conducted in two major cities in South Africa, where social entrepreneurship (SE) has unequivocal application. Social outcomes and self-efficacy are operationalized and measured along multi-dimensional scales. After checking the instruments for validity and reliability, correlational and multiple regression analyses are performed to determine the predicted relationship between the specified variables. Findings – Empirical findings reveal that evaluation of social enterprise outcomes is associated with higher levels of self-efficacy. Significant results support the propositions that perceptions of capability are positively related to implementing a social vision, sustainability, social networking, innovativeness and financial returns. Research limitations/implications – The main implications of this study are that measuring SE efficacy in advance of funding may indicate probability of venture success. Originality/value – The study is one of the first to provide a much needed account of the evaluation of social enterprises in relation to self-efficacy in an emerging market context.

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