scholarly journals Role of Social Enterprises in Addressing Energy Poverty: Making the Case for Refined Understanding through Theory of Co-Production of Knowledge and Theory of Social Capital

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8533
Author(s):  
Praveen Kumar ◽  
Nishant Tiwary
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Production Of Knowledge ◽  
Poor Communities

Social enterprises have become increasingly central in the field of energy poverty. As a result of market and government failures, an increased emphasis on social enterprises to address energy poverty has emerged. Still, there is limited theoretical understanding guiding the role of social enterprises in addressing the challenge of energy poverty. We apply theories of co-production and social capital to analyze the role of social enterprises in disseminating and implementing cleaner energy alternatives to resource poor communities. By combining implications of these theories, we argue that social enterprises act as honest brokers between communities and technologists, cultivate new social relationships, and change social structures to move poor communities to adopt and use cleaner energy systems. Understanding the role of social enterprises in addressing energy poverty through a theoretical realm will provide a guiding framework to undertake systematic empirical investigation.

Why social enterprises pursue growth? Analysis of threats and opportunities

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 376-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saila Tykkyläinen
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Departure Point ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Mission ◽  
Growth Orientation ◽  
External Threats ◽  
Social Venture

Purpose The purpose of this study is to extend theoretical understanding on social enterprises’ growth orientation. Inspiration is drawn from the fundamentals of prospect theory and threat-rigidity theory, as the role of external threats as a source of growth orientation is largely absent from the social enterprise growth literature. According to previous studies, social enterprises grow mainly because of their social mission and social opportunities. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative research is conducted by analysing thematic interviews from seven, growth-oriented social enterprises operating in Finland. Findings The study provides novel insights on social enterprises’ growth orientation by drawing attention to the plurality of growth motivations and showing the importance of perceived threats as the origin of their growth pursuits. Goals of growth are defined mainly in terms of organisational and financial performance of the firm. Practical implications Social enterprise managers and boards are encouraged to cooperate in analysing the significance of external threats and opportunities for their business and to concentrate on defining measurable social goals to ensure balanced growth. Originality/value The study demonstrates that the behavioural theories offer a beneficial departure point for studying social venture growth. By clarifying the role of the perceptions of the firm’s internal actors and showing that growth is sometimes seen as a response to external threats, the study increases theoretical understanding on social enterprises’ growth orientation.

The role of social enterprises in shaping social bonds

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (9) ◽  
pp. 830-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Rymsza
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of social enterprises in building social capital and strengthening social bonds. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is based on the comparative method. The author compares the development of social entrepreneurship of the “old” social economy (born on the turn of nineteenth and twentieth centuries), and of the “new” social economy (developing on the turn of twentieth and twenty-first centuries); and the functioning of social enterprises of two kinds: work integration social enterprises (WISEs) and community-based social enterprises (CBSEs). Moreover, he distinguishes between economic and social re-integration; and reciprocity and vertical inclusion. Findings – The paper presents WISEs and CBSEs as tools of two different activation programmes: WISEs improve the employability of individuals who are marginalized in the labour market, while CBSEs serve as vehicles for the socio-economic development of the marginalized communities and territories. Furthermore, the author clarifies two methods of inclusion: through strengthening horizontal social ties (realized mainly by CBSEs, with their mutuality principle as a basis for building relations between participants) and building vertical social bonds (mainly by WISEs, based on the “inclusion of excluded” formula). Research limitations/implications – The paper stresses the importance of focusing research into social entrepreneurship on the role of social enterprises in shaping social bonds as well as using and producing of social capital of two main types: bonding and bridging. Practical implications – Recommendations for managing social enterprises as hybrid entities. The author argues that the most effective approach (in producing social value-added) is to combine the formula of the re-integration of individuals excluded from the labour market with the efforts to develop the whole local communities from marginalized territories. Originality/value – The author uses sociological perspectives in analysing economic entities and activation policies.

scholarly journals Indonesian Traditional Market Flexibility amidst State Promoted Market Competition

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mangku Purnomo ◽  
Fenna Otten ◽  
Heiko Faust
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Street Vendors ◽  
Traditional Markets ◽  
Traditional Market ◽  
Traditional Vegetable

The penetration of modern supermarkets is believed to be the cause of the declining role of traditional markets and street vendors in Indonesia. But the competition between state-promoted markets and traditional markets is rarely discussed. This investigation focuses on traditional markets as social institutions, which continuously have developed a variety of strategies in order to remain competitive in the midst of intense rivalry. Firstly, we will outline a theoretical understanding of the traditional markets positioning along the concepts of flexibility and market devices. Secondly, we empirically reflect the strategies of four traditional vegetable markets in the District of Malang, East Java Province, as case studies. We show that the traditional markets build flexibility without governmental support by: (1) specifying commodities, (2) segmenting customers, (3) managing the load time, (4) modifying transportation to operate more efficiently, and (5) minimizing transaction costs by leveraging social capital. We argue that traditional vegetable markets institutionally reduce the potential of transaction costs to be competitive and avoid problems of coordination by building social capital through networks. All in all, market institutions supported by market devices are flexibly capable of adapting to the pressures of both selfishness among actors and competition with other markets.

scholarly journals Microfinance and the business of poverty reduction: Critical perspectives from rural Bangladesh

2016 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhabrata Bobby Banerjee ◽  
Laurel Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Popular Approach ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poor Communities

In this article we provide a critical analysis of the role of market-based approaches to poverty reduction in developing countries. In particular, we analyse the role of microfinance in poverty alleviation by conducting an ethnographic study of three villages in Bangladesh. Microfinance has become an increasingly popular approach that aims to alleviate poverty by providing the poor new opportunities for entrepreneurship. It also aims to promote empowerment (especially among women) while enhancing social capital in poor communities. Our findings, however, reflect a different picture. We found microfinance led to increasing levels of indebtedness among already impoverished communities and exacerbated economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities. Our findings contribute to the emerging literature on the role of social capital in developing entrepreneurial capabilities in poor communities by highlighting processes whereby social capital can be undermined by market-based measures like microfinance.

Social Capital for Strategic Sensitivity in Global Business

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Lehtimäki ◽  
Katja Karintaus
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Global Business ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Entity ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Operating Organization

The purpose of this case study is to increase our understanding of building strategic sensitivity and the ways by which internal social relationships contribute to it. Applying insights from social capital and social networks theories, the case explores the role of social relations in implementing a strategic initiative. The case study was conducted in close collaboration with the case firm to ensure the applicability of the research findings in an empirical setting. Strategic sensitivity is embedded in social interaction. Exploring both the structural and relational dimensions of social capital allows for understanding the role of social relationships in constraining and enhancing strategic sensitivity. The structural dimension gives information on the efficiency and vulnerability of the social relations, while, the relational dimension shows the motivation for interacting and sharing information and knowledge. Identification of the company as a social entity with humane values manifested in communication is important to the members of the globally operating organization. The case provides empirical evidence on the functioning of social capital and gives an insight to the importance of understanding social connections between the members of the organization.

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