scholarly journals Implications of ICT for Development on Enhancing Rural Entrepreneur Program (REP) at Telecentres in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 629-642
Author(s):  
Marhaini Mohd Noor ◽  
Noreha Hashim ◽  
Rahaya Md. Jamin
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Entrepreneur ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
Ict For Development

This paper examines rural social entrepreneurship program in rural Malaysia communities. The program seeks to promote and turn rural entrepreneurs into social entrepreneurs by strengthening their economic activities and enhancing social capital. This paper focuses on a component of the rural entrepreneur program (REP), namely the Social Entrepreneur Club (SEC). The club runs the rural entrepreneur program and upholds the program’s objectives. It promotes the socialization of rural communities by engaging them in entrepreneurial activities. The club operates under the Rural Internet Centre (RIC); a telecentre that provides space for rural communities to enhance their ICT knowledge and skills. However, despite the opportunity provided, some of the rural entrepreneurs do not show adequate interest in the program as they prefer being entrepreneurs, but not social entrepreneurs. Thus, the success of the SECs depends on the entrepreneurs’ participation in the program, the geographical locations and the support from the telecentre managers. This paper employs the economic gardening concept and community informatics approach to empirically gather evidence to test the theory on ICT for development; particularly rural development for rural communities. A quantitative method has been used to measure the implications of ICT in this program. Data from the entrepreneurs is obtained through an online survey which has been conducted across the varying regions in Malaysia. The quantitative data is supported by interviews (qualitative method) with telecentre managers. The primary data has been triangulated to analyze the results. The key findings show that the SEC is seen as economic development strategy by creating jobs, as well as increasing income and business opportunities. It also strengthens social networking needed to build social capital within and outside of the rural communities. Hence SEC is also a community connector and can be used as an indicator on the quality of rural communities’ wellbeing.

scholarly journals Social Economy and Responsibility

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Abramuszkinová Pavlíková
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Social Entrepreneur ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Handicapped People ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
Physically Handicapped

Given the importance of entrepreneurial activities as an engine of economic growth and poverty alleviation, the issue of business development and entrepreneurial activities, has received increasing attention from a number of interested parties worldwide and also in the Czech Republic. The focus of this paper is on a social economy, a social responsibility and social enterprises. The development of the social economy framework will be introduced in the European context and specifically in the Czech Republic. A case study of a Czech social entrepreneur will be introduced based on qualitative research, namely the biographical narrative method.Social enterprises can support activities of various target groups, such as economic activities of mentally and physically handicapped people, which often operate in economically and socially marginalized situations, including stereotyped images. They give them a chance to become active members of society. In this way they can help to reduce the poverty on a local level. The aim of this paper is to introduce a social entrepreneurship as important part of social economy development in the Czech Republic.

Local farmers’ experiences and perceptions of climate change in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Kofi Teye ◽  
Joseph Awetori Yaro ◽  
Simon Bawakyillenuo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Climate Change And Variability ◽  
Control Climate ◽  
Savannah Zone ◽  
Local Farmers

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the perceptions and experiences of climate change by local farmers in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana. Although recent scholarship shows that local people’s perceptions of climate change is necessary for devising strategies to deal with the problem, only a few researchers have examined local knowledge of climate change in Africa. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data were collected from six rural communities in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana, using a questionnaire survey on a sample of 530 farmers, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse variations in experience and perception of climate change. Findings – A majority of the farmers have noticed rising temperatures and declining rainfall. Their observations largely correspond with the evidence of changes recorded by weather monitoring stations. The perception of climate change is associated with locality of residence, gender and ownership of radio. The impacts of climate and variability include declining crop output, food insecurity and water stress. Respondents attributed changes in climatic parameters to economic activities and spiritual factors. It is recommended that environmental managers should actively involve local farmers in the design and implementation of policies to control climate change and variability. Originality/value – The methodology used demonstrates how multinomial logit models can be used to investigate perceptions of climate change. The research findings also provide very useful information that can be relied upon to design policies to deal with climate change and variability in Ghana.

scholarly journals SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: CHALLENGES IN WAY TO RISE

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. 191-197
Author(s):  
Seema Devi
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Stock Prices ◽  
Social Entrepreneur ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
For Profit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Environmental Goals ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
Business Metrics ◽  
Positive Return

Social entrepreneurship is the use of the techniques by startup companies and other entrepreneurs to develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues. This concept may be applied to a variety of organizations with different sizes, aims, and beliefs. For-profit entrepreneurs typically measure performance using business metrics like profit, revenues and increases in stock prices, but social entrepreneurs are either non-profits or blend for-profit goals with generating a positive "return to society" and therefore must use different metrics. Social entrepreneurship typically attempts to further broad social, cultural, and environmental goals often associated with the voluntary sector  in areas such as poverty alleviation, health care and community development. This article builds on the literature to define social entrepreneurship, discusses the boundaries of socially-oriented entrepreneurial activities, and positions the social entrepreneur in the spectrum of entrepreneurship.

scholarly journals SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY : SPECIAL SOCIAL-ENTREPRENEURS @HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN MALAYSIA

ICCD ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Anees Janee Ali ◽  
Jamshed Khalid ◽  
Mass Hareeza Ali ◽  
Razleena Razali
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Social Entrepreneur ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Job Opportunities ◽  
The Disabled ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
High Hope

Social entrepreneurship is defined as activities created by an innovative social value to achieve societal needs and financial sustainability. It is a business concept that involve conducting business that does not emphasis much on profit but for the benefit of mankind. Special Social Entrepreneur @Higher Education (SSEHE) is a programme mastered by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) that collaborated with four other universities in Malaysia. The aim of SSEHE is to get handicapped youths to get together and follow talks and discussion in order to create awareness on how they can stand on their own to make a living. The main objectives of SSEHE are transforming the mindset of the disabled youths that they can be independent by involving in entrepreneurial activities, introducing the basic entrepreneurial knowledge to the disabled youths, opening job opportunities to the disabled youths and helping the disabled youths to start and/or expand their business. SSEHE has high hope to continue this programme in the future so that disabled youths are aware that they can use their skills to make a living for themselves and their loved ones.

Creating and sustaining social value through collaborative effort: the slum ambassadors of Bwaise

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Diana Nandagire Ntamu ◽  
Waswa Balunywa ◽  
John Munene ◽  
Peter Rosa ◽  
Laura A. Orobia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Learning Objective ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Donor Funding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Disadvantaged Communities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Learning outcomes By the end of their studies, students are expected to: undergraduate level. Learning objective 1: Describe the concept of social entrepreneurship. Learning objective 2: Explain the sources and challenges of funding social entrepreneurial activities. Learning objective 3: Discuss the different strategies that social entrepreneurs may use to raise funds. Postgraduate level. Learning Objective 1: Use theory to explain the concept of social entrepreneurship. Learning objective 2: Discuss the role of social capital in facilitating resource acquisition for social entrepreneurial activities. Learning objective 3: Evaluate the current action for fundamental change and development (AFFCAD) funding model and propose strategies that may be used by a social enterprise to achieve financial sustainability when donor funding expires. Case overview/synopsis The past decade has seen the emergence of many social enterprises from disadvantaged communities in low-income countries, seeking to provide solutions to social problems, which in developed countries would normally be addressed by government sponsored welfare programmes. The social entrepreneurs behind such initiatives are typically drawn from the disadvantaged communities they serve. They are often young people committed to improving the lives of their most disadvantaged community members. Being poor themselves and located in the poorest communities, establishing their enterprise faces fundamental challenges of obtaining resources and if accessed, sustaining the flow of resources to continue and grow their enterprise. Targeting external donors and mobilizing social resources within their community is a typical route to get their enterprise off the ground, but sustaining momentum when donor funding ceases requires changes of strategy and management. How are young social entrepreneurs dealing with these challenges? The case focusses on AFFCAD, a social enterprise founded by Mohammed Kisirisa and his three friends to support poor people in Bwaise, the largest slum in Kampala city. It illustrates how, like many other similar social enterprise teams, the AFFCAD team struggled to establish itself and its continuing difficulties in trying to financially sustain its activities. The case demonstrates how the youngsters mobilised social networks and collective action to gain access to donor funding and how they are modifying this strategy as donor funding expires. From an academic perspective, a positive theory of social entrepreneurship (Santos, 2012) is applied to create an understanding of the concept of social entrepreneurship. The case uses the social capital theory to demonstrate the role played by social ties in enabling social entrepreneurs to access financial and non-financial support in a resource scarce context (Bourdieu, 1983; Coleman, 1988, 1990). The National Council for Voluntary Organisations Income Spectrum is used as a tool to develop the options available for the AFFCAD team to sustain their activities in the absence of donor support. The case provides evidence that social entrepreneurs are not limited by an initial lack of resources especially if they create productive relationships at multiple levels in the communities where they work. However, their continued success depends on the ability to reinvent themselves by identifying ways to generate revenue to achieve their social goals. Complexity academic level This case study is aimed at Bachelor of Entrepreneurship students, MBA, MSc. Entrepreneurship and Masters of Social Innovation students. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

scholarly journals Social Entrepreneurship

2016 ◽  
pp. 513-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Bernardino ◽  
José Freitas Santos ◽  
José Cadima Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Developing Regions ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Social

The purpose of this chapter is to contribute to a better understanding of the link between social entrepreneurship and institutional environment in Portugal. A quantitative approach is used in the study, with primary data collected through an online survey. A questionnaire was emailed to both Portuguese Non-Governmental Organizations and projects available on the Portuguese Social Stock Exchange. In the analysis of the data, we used descriptive statistics, factorial analysis and t-student tests in an attempt to validate the research hypotheses. The results show that a favorable institutional environment has low importance in the decision to develop social entrepreneurial initiatives. This conclusion supports the idea that many social entrepreneurs can emerge even in developing regions where the institutional environment is weak. Therefore, social entrepreneurship could be an instrument of regional development and contribute to attenuating the social and economic differences among Portuguese regions.

scholarly journals Characterization of Social Capital Using a Nested Latent Class Model: Case of Rural Areas in Central Malawi

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 178
Author(s):  
Joseph Dzanja
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Latent Class Model ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Model Case

Social capital relates to capital created when a group of individuals or organizations develop the ability to work together for mutually productive gain. Gains in economic performance and innovative capacity depend on the institutional effectiveness of these relationships as measured by the available stock of social capital. Studies on social capital have however, been criticized for failing to account for the multi-dimensional and latent nature of the concept. Using household survey data from Malawi, this study uses latent class analytical methods to explore social capital and how it relates to welfare of people in rural communities in Malawi in Africa. It highlights the usefulness of latent class analytical methods for providing statistically valid information about the characteristics and determinants of social capital. Using the social capital dimensions of trust, participation and volunteering a four class LCA typology was constructed. Around 30% of the sample were classified as ‘trusty participants’, reporting active participation in the socio-economic activities of their communities and a high degree of community and institutional trust. Multinomial logistic regression revealed the covariates of the different typologies of social capital.

The role of social entrepreneurs in developing community resilience in remote areas

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Morrison ◽  
Elaine Ramsey ◽  
Derek Bond
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Community Resilience ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Economic Resilience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Remote Areas

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the processes whereby social entrepreneurs can contribute to community resilience and sustainability. Design/methodology/approach The study used a qualitative case study approach with 15 island communities located off the north and west coasts of Scotland and who were engaged in the development and implementation of renewable energy initiatives. Findings Peripheral communities provide an environment where entrepreneurial activities can flourish. Through a model of social enterprise, they were able to develop the necessary mechanisms to increase socio-economic resilience. The study indicates the importance of social capital in this process. Research limitations/implications External networks provide part of the framework to overcome market imperfections caused by distance and remoteness so that social entrepreneurs can develop their ability to build resilience and sustainability. More research is needed on how this framework can be utilised. Social implications In spite of the challenges presented in remote areas, these communities have shown the ability to adapt. This is an important component of resilience building. Originality/value This paper makes a unique contribution to the knowledge base through the interconnected concepts of social entrepreneurship and social capital. It provides new empirical insights into social enterprises and describes the mechanisms that help to build resilient rural communities in the context of renewable energy endeavours.

scholarly journals Impact of Entrepreneurship Education on the development of Entrepreneurial Activities: The Case of Omani Undergraduate Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 124 ◽  
pp. 03001
Author(s):  
Abdullah Mohammed Al Shukaili ◽  
Norizan Mohd Kassim ◽  
Anju Ravi ◽  
Mohammed Muneerali
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Private Higher Education ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
The Impact

Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation has always been the important to the Sultanate of Oman’s future. This research will shed light on the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education on the development of entrepreneurial activities in Oman. Large number of studies have concerned about entrepreneurship education, and entrepreneurial intention, but very few studies focusing on the how and why entrepreneurship education influences and their impact on entrepreneurial intention. Therefore, the objective of our study is to identify the impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurship intention among undergraduate students in Oman. A survey questionnaire is used as the primary data collection tool by way of an online survey, and a sample from public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Oman. The sample will consist of two groups selected among a population of undergraduate students who are in their final semester of study, and from those who have graduated during the previous two years. As this research is still in progress, we are expecting to collect a sample exceeding two hundred questionnaires. Preliminary testing of the model indicates that the survey instrument of this study is a fair, valid, and reliable method with which to conduct this field data collection. The research findings are expected to contribute to a greater understanding of the relationship between the various components of entrepreneurship education and the entrepreneurial intention of those undergraduate students from the target populations. Since increasing attention has been given to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education in Oman, in recent years, it is expected that the findings of this research will reveal the effectiveness of such programs in enhancing the potential of students to enable them to become effective, self-employed, entrepreneurs.

Social Entrepreneur's Networks and Institutional Environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Susana Bernardino ◽  
José Freitas Santos ◽  
José Cadima Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Social Venture

Institutional environments are widely regarded as a crucial advantage of regions to promote social entrepreneurship. However, there is scarce empirical support on the importance of network relationships and the ties that bind, both institutions and social entrepreneurs. This study contributes to filling this gap by analyzing network relationships and the institutional environment in Portugal. A quantitative approach is used in the study, using primary data collected through an online survey. A questionnaire was emailed to both Portuguese Non-Governmental Organizations and projects available on the Portuguese Social Stock Exchange. In the analysis of the data, the authors used descriptive statistics and canonical correlation analysis in an attempt to examine the links between network relationships and the institutional environment. The results we got show that a favorable institutional environment is not independent of the decision to start a new social venture.

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