IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i8p4454-d789695.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Beyond a Balanced View of Social Entrepreneurship within a Social–Commercial Dichotomy: Towards a Four-Dimensional Typology

Author

Listed:
  • Rüdiger Hein

    (School of Business, Economics and Society, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, P.O. Box 3931, 90020 Nuremberg, Germany)

Abstract

With regard to the basic understanding of the location of social entrepreneurship, there is a widespread explanatory approach of a dichotomy with two poles: social and entrepreneurial. According to this, a lesser expression of one pole automatically leads to an approach toward the other pole. Social entrepreneurship is to be positioned in the middle of the two poles. On the basis of a qualitative empirical study (qualitative content analysis and metaphor analysis), this paper questions the basic understanding of the bipolar continuum and postulates a different, four-dimensional basic understanding of social entrepreneurship. This new draft does better justice to the given complexity of social entrepreneurship and provides an expanded explanatory approach to how social entrepreneurship can be conceptualized beyond the two dimensions. An approach with 36 types of social entrepreneurship emerges from the research results. The implications for science and practice are discussed. This article contributes to a better understanding of the different logics of social enterprises with hybrid organizational principles dedicated to sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Rüdiger Hein, 2022. "Beyond a Balanced View of Social Entrepreneurship within a Social–Commercial Dichotomy: Towards a Four-Dimensional Typology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4454-:d:789695
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/8/4454/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/8/4454/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gabriela Tigu & Maria-Cristina Iorgulescu & Anamaria Sidonia Ravar & Ramona Lile, 2015. "A Pilot Profile of the Social Entrepreneur in the Constantly Changing Romanian Economy," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 17(38), pages 1-25, February.
    2. James Austin & Howard Stevenson & Jane Wei–Skillern, 2006. "Social and Commercial Entrepreneurship: Same, Different, or Both?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(1), pages 1-22, January.
    3. Janice Byrne & Sylvain Bureau & Halima Jarrodi, 2019. "A political ideology lens on social entrepreneurship motivations," Post-Print hal-02512028, HAL.
    4. Chisung Park, 2008. "Do the Boundaries Between the Nonprofit, Public and Business Sectors Blur?: Comparing “Within the Nonprofit Sector Collaboration Networks” and “Inter-Sector Collaboration Networks” in the Social Servi," International Review of Public Administration, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(2), pages 81-95, September.
    5. Archana Singh & Satyajit Majumdar, 2020. "Entrepreneurship: Nation as a Context," Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, in: Satyajit Majumdar & Edakkandi Meethal Reji (ed.), Methodological Issues in Social Entrepreneurship Knowledge and Practice, chapter 0, pages 199-222, Springer.
    6. Halima Jarrodi & Janice Byrne & Sylvain Bureau, 2019. "A political ideology lens on social entrepreneurship motivations," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(7-8), pages 583-604, August.
    7. David M. Townsend & Timothy A. Hart, 2008. "Perceived Institutional Ambiguity and the Choice of Organizational Form in Social Entrepreneurial Ventures," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 32(4), pages 685-700, July.
    8. Satyajit Majumdar & Edakkandi Meethal Reji, 2020. "Introduction: Methodological Issues in Social Entrepreneurship Knowledge and Practice," Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, in: Satyajit Majumdar & Edakkandi Meethal Reji (ed.), Methodological Issues in Social Entrepreneurship Knowledge and Practice, chapter 0, pages 1-11, Springer.
    9. Satyajit Majumdar & Usha Ganesh, 2020. "Qualitative Research in Social Entrepreneurship: A Critique," Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, in: Satyajit Majumdar & Edakkandi Meethal Reji (ed.), Methodological Issues in Social Entrepreneurship Knowledge and Practice, chapter 0, pages 15-38, Springer.
    10. Robin Stevens & Nathalie Moray & Johan Bruneel, 2015. "The Social and Economic Mission of Social Enterprises: Dimensions, Measurement, Validation, and Relation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(5), pages 1051-1082, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Reeti Kulshrestha & Arunaditya Sahay & Subhanjan Sengupta, 2022. "Constituents and Drivers of Mission Engagement for Social Enterprise Sustainability: A Systematic Review," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 31(1), pages 90-120, March.
    2. Adélie Ranville & Marcos Barros, 2022. "Towards Normative Theories of Social Entrepreneurship. A Review of the Top Publications of the Field," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 407-438, October.
    3. Gupta, Parul & Chauhan, Sumedha & Paul, Justin & Jaiswal, M.P., 2020. "Social entrepreneurship research: A review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 209-229.
    4. Mirene Begiristain‐Zubillaga & Enekoitz Etxezarreta‐Etxarri & Jon Morandeira‐Arca, 2022. "Towards the transformative social economy: Proposal of a system of indicators for cooperative social entrepreneurship," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(2), pages 457-501, June.
    5. Robin Stevens & Nathalie Moray & Johan Bruneel, 2015. "The Social and Economic Mission of Social Enterprises: Dimensions, Measurement, Validation, and Relation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(5), pages 1051-1082, September.
    6. Harris, Jared D. & Sapienza, Harry J. & Bowie, Norman E., 2009. "Ethics and entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 407-418, September.
    7. Régis Y. Chenavaz & Alexandra Couston & Stéphanie Heichelbech & Isabelle Pignatel & Stanko Dimitrov, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurial Ventures: A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-30, May.
    8. Aidin Salamzadeh & Zahra Arasti & Ghanbar Mohamadi Elyasi, 2017. "Creation of ICT-Based Social Start-Ups in Iran: A Multiple Case Study," Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 25(01), pages 97-122, March.
    9. Patricia Doyle Corner & Marcus Ho, 2010. "How Opportunities Develop in Social Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(4), pages 635-659, July.
    10. Siebold, Nicole, 2021. "Reference points for business model innovation in social purpose organizations: A stakeholder perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 710-719.
    11. Pradeep Kumar Hota, 2023. "Tracing the Intellectual Evolution of Social Entrepreneurship Research: Past Advances, Current Trends, and Future Directions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(3), pages 637-659, January.
    12. Saras D. Sarasvathy & Sankaran Venkataraman, 2011. "Entrepreneurship as Method: Open Questions for an Entrepreneurial Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(1), pages 113-135, January.
    13. Jonghun Sun & Young Woo Sohn, 2021. "The Influence of Dual Missions on Employees’ Meaning of Work and Turnover Intention in Social Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-14, July.
    14. Mendoza-Abarca, Karla I. & Anokhin, Sergey & Zamudio, César, 2015. "Uncovering the influence of social venture creation on commercial venture creation: A population ecology perspective," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 793-807.
    15. Peyman Pournasr Khakbaz & Behrouz Zarei, 2011. "Identifying Effective Organizational Factors on Corporate Entrepreneurship in Tehran Municipality's Department of Urban Services," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 3(6), pages 328-335.
    16. Sara Calvo Martínez & Andrés Morales Pachón & José María Martín Martín & Valentín Molina Moreno, 2019. "Solidarity Economy, Social Enterprise, and Innovation Discourses: Understanding Hybrid Forms in Postcolonial Colombia," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-17, July.
    17. João J. Ferreira & Cristina I. Fernandes & Marta Peres-Ortiz & Helena Alves, 2017. "Conceptualizing social entrepreneurship: perspectives from the literature," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 14(1), pages 73-93, March.
    18. Michael H. Morris & Justin W. Webb & Rebecca J. Franklin, 2011. "Understanding the Manifestation of Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Nonprofit Context," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 947-971, September.
    19. Ostertag, Felix & Hahn, Rüdiger & Ince, Inan, 2021. "Blended value co-creation: A qualitative investigation of relationship designs of social enterprises," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 428-445.
    20. Saskia Crucke & Hanne Bockaert, 2023. "Exploring the attractiveness of social enterprises to job seekers: The role of perceived value fit and prestige," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(2), pages 399-422, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4454-:d:789695. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.