Enterpreneurial Incentives, Obstacles, and Management in University-Business Co-Operation

The study in this chapter aimed to explore the perception of university managers and academics towards incentives and obstacles of university-business co-operation. For this purpose, case studies were conducted in a public and a private university in Indonesia. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with university managers: University Vice President and the Head of Research and Community Service Office; and with academics at the department of electrical engineering and computer science. The results suggest that both organizational actors at both universities share a common perception that industrial funding; organizational and individual reputation; trust from industries and applied research are the incentives in the creation of university-business co-operation; whilst bureaucracy, industrial commitment, different in vision and orientation, teaching obligation and basic research have been considered as the obstacles. This study proposes a managerial implication. University managers should ‘recognize' the ‘skills' of individual academics in business before engaging them in university-business co-operation. Furthermore, individual academics should able to manage the different vision and orientation with the business world.

Some Experiences of Puebla's Entrepreneurs in New York

For decades, New York, and the tri-State area, has become a major attraction for Poblano immigrants seeking opportunities. Some of these immigrants, not only have worked to send remittances to their families in Mexico, but also have made their way to become productive, social and political entrepreneurs in the communities of destination and/or origin. But what are the conditions that have allowed certain Poblanos to become economic, political and social entrepreneurs in the so-called Big Apple and its surroundings? What have been the challenges they have had to overcome? And what is their relationship with their origin communities in Mexico? These are the main research questions of this study part.

A Model for Social Entrepreneurship Education

This chapter reviews the factors that are relevant to promote an entrepreneurial attitude, identifying education as an element of vital importance that influences the disposition to start a venture and its results. This is particularly important in the case of social entrepreneurship projects, in which good intentions frequently overcome sound business realities. To deepen the understanding of the relationship between education and social entrepreneurship, the authors develop the model “Pyramid of catalysts for entrepreneurship” which helps to understand the mechanism by which the educational process affects the quantity and quality of social entrepreneurship. This chapter also presents several elements of paramount importance in designing a program of social entrepreneurial education.

From Corporate Social Responsibility to Social Entrepreneurship

Corporate Social Responsibility has become more significant among companies and other institutions. Nevertheless, the traditional approach of corporate social responsibility, based on preventing the possible negative impact of irresponsible and unethical practices, is no longer enough. The profound socio-economic changes, accelerated as a result of the global economic crisis, demand a further step respect to corporate social responsibility paradigm linking to the so-called social entrepreneurship, understood here as the incorporation of new social demands to business models. This chapter aims to redefine the concept of social entrepreneurship from an eclectic point of view and present a methodological approach for their measurement as a tool for business strategic planning. The theoretical proposal of social entrepreneurship tries to link creating shared value concept with the stakeholder theory, paying special attention to the Social Return on Investment (SROI) method, together with neuroscientific approach, as tools for the measurement of social value.

Social Responsibility of Healthcare Organizations and the Role of the Nurse

Exploring the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implies a must for holistic and regulatory approaches to business ethics. Professionals, executives and employees must demonstrate ethical-based behavior in healthcare. So, the first commitment of the nurse must be caring patients, as without caring them, nurses lose their professional identity. As a result, universities should support the teaching of ethics, while stimulating CSR and values derived from practical training. Experience shows that the methodology of “service learning” seeks to promote the committed participation of students in the teaching-learning process, while delivering a quality service to the community. Correctly inserted into an experience-based pedagogical frame, ethics strengthens critical thinking, problem solving, and encourages solidarity.

Social Entrepreneurship in Sheltered Employment Centers

Sheltered Employment Centers (CEE) are part of the social economy companies, based on the primacy of people over capital, social benefits and solidarity. Its aim is to carry out productive work and they are a means of integration of the greatest possible number of disabled people. There is a growing interest in this type of business, because its number has increased considerably. The objective of this chapter is to give academic visibility to CEE due to its great contribution to the social corporate responsibility, and to encourage the so-called social entrepreneurship. The reasons for creating social firms are analyzed and the characteristics that can contribute to the success of this type of companies are studied. Using the case study methodology, a CEE is analyzed in depth showing the main features of social economy business by means of a specific case and the key variables that has conducted to its success.

Key Aspects to Develop Long-Term Microfinance and Financial Inclusion for Social Development

This chapter presents the main guidelines for microfinance to be a successful financial model, mainly for who do not have any access to the traditional financial market. The model can be active for reaching one of its main objectives (to reach poverty eradication worldwide). This will be achieved only if the microcredit institutions do not consider the operating conditions that may oblige them to be part of the traditional financial system. Nowadays, governments, financial sectors, and multilateral agencies have focused their efforts on financial inclusion, as a first experience before using a broad portfolio of microcredit services.

Socioeconomics of Solidarity

This work deals with the Socioeconomics of Solidarity analyzed from a double public and private perspectives. The chapter begins with the guiding principles of this emerging economic thought based on the principle of subsidiarity, the search for the Common Good, and the necessary solidarity based on justice. After having grounded these principles, the author develops different solidarity-based public policies, mainly focused on the European Union, by including principles, objectives and stages of the European Official Development Aid, the European Development Fund, and the Common Framework for Joint Multiannual Programming and Efficiency. This analysis is complemented with the ideas rooted on the Socioeconomics of Solidarity that is analyzed following a private perspective, arguing that it is necessary to re-launch these School of Thought based on solidarity and justice to search for an economic world characterized by social welfare and economic wealth.

A Decision Model on Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Strategies

The role of companies in today's society has been radically transformed, especially in developed economies. The stakeholders have deposited on companies different expectations compared to some years ago. Furthermore, this transformation has led to the establishment of new internal models of corporate governance depending on the intensity of the impact of demand for social action coming from the stakeholders interacting with firms. The aim of this work is to offer a decision model on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and business strategies. This model constitutes a tool that can be adopted by firms, no matter their operational sector, to establish their particular coordinates with respect to their CSR actions and social commitment. Using this tool, companies can update their particular situation taking decisions to change those aspects influencing this position and improving their social integration, if it is perceived as non-aligned with its aspirations of success, efficiency or adequateness.

Joint Liability Lending, Entrepreneurial Development, and Poverty Reduction

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the effect of joint liability lending on micro businesses in Madina municipality. Joint liability lending has become a popular and fashionable word in financial and development circles. It is a cross sectional survey study and used both primary and secondary data on joint liability lending. The study reveals that joint liability lending improves entrepreneurships and reduces poverty. There exist a significant relationship between joint liability lending and a high repayment rate. The implications are that individual within the group are encouraged to continue saving and microfinance institutions should continue investing in educating and training clients to improve upon their micro businesses.