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SHEstainability: how relationship networks influence the idea generation in opportunity recognition process by female social entrepreneurs

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  • Anna B. Spiegler
  • Jantje Halberstadt

Abstract

Despite the rapid growth of literature on social entrepreneurship and its increasing importance for social change and sustainability, little is known about how social entrepreneurship originates in different settings. In this study, we applied a gender-based perspective to analyse the origin and development of social entrepreneurship. Focusing on female social entrepreneurs in Namibia, we investigated how relationship networks sensitised women towards opportunities for social and sustainable innovations and who particularly influenced them during this process of idea generation and realisation. Using a mixed-method approach consisting of semi-structured interviews and egocentric network analysis, we identified an opportunity recognition process that differs from that of conventional ventures. Our results show that social innovation is not, e.g., due to gate-keepers but rather a result of everyday community interaction settings. This finding challenges current theories of (social) entrepreneurship, suggesting a need to further investigate the roles of gender and the socio-economic context.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna B. Spiegler & Jantje Halberstadt, 2018. "SHEstainability: how relationship networks influence the idea generation in opportunity recognition process by female social entrepreneurs," International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(2), pages 202-235.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeven:v:10:y:2018:i:2:p:202-235
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jantje Halberstadt & Christoph Schank & Mark Euler & Rainer Harms, 2019. "Learning Sustainability Entrepreneurship by Doing: Providing a Lecturer-Oriented Service Learning Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Almudena Martínez-Campillo & María del Pilar Sierra-Fernández & Yolanda Fernández-Santos, 2019. "Service-Learning for Sustainability Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas: What Is Its Global Impact on Business University Students?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-21, September.
    3. Mercedes Barrachina Fernández & Maria del Carmen García-Centeno & Carmen Calderón Patier, 2021. "Women Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Isabell Tenner & Jacob Hörisch, 2021. "Diversity matters: the influence of gender diversity on the environmental orientation of entrepreneurial ventures," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 91(7), pages 1005-1023, September.
    5. Halberstadt, Jantje & Schwab, Anne-Kathrin & Kraus, Sascha, 2024. "Cleaning the window of opportunity: Towards a typology of sustainability entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    6. Zavodny Pospisil Jan & Zavodna Lucie Sara, 2022. "An Insight to the World of Female Entrepreneurship: Systematic Literature Review of the Phenomenon using the Mckinsey 7S Model," Foundations of Management, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 51-66, January.
    7. Beldina Owalla & Cristian Gherhes & Tim Vorley & Chay Brooks, 2022. "Mapping SME productivity research: a systematic review of empirical evidence and future research agenda," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(3), pages 1285-1307, March.
    8. Halberstadt, Jantje & Kollhoff, Sophia & Kraus, Sascha & Dhir, Amandeep, 2022. "Early bird or early worm? First-mover (dis)advantages and the success of web-based social enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).

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