SEDA/SEDA301/Drivers of Social Entrepreneurship

Before we start
In the last Learning Pathway we covered quite a lot of theoretical content about social entrepreneurship, social innovation and social enterprise. Now that you have had some time to process this information, it is time for some reflection.

Learning Pathway Overview: Drivers of Social Entrepreneurship
In this Learning Pathway, we will be further drilling into one aspect of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise identified in the last Learning Pathway - the hybrid nature which falls at the core of their goals and activities. There is a growing focus within academia upon what it truly means to be a hybrid organisation, and what this may look like at an organisational level. It is recognised that the combination of two, often very conflicting value systems, can create many challenges for individuals and organisations. Some even consider the combination of two different institutional logics (or value systems that guide action) is in itself innovative. We cover these issues in greater depth in Lecture 3.

To further develop your understanding of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise, Lecture 4 examines some of the historical, socio-political, cultural and technological factors which have supported the rise and importance of social enterprise as a vehicle for change in our communities.

Hybrid missions and sustainable social impact
Social enterprises have been referred to as the ideal type of hybrid organisation. In order to be sustainable, social enterprises must incorporate and balance contradictory organisational structures, cultures, practices, processes, goals and objectives associated with a traditional non-profit and for-profit organisational forms. As you can imagine, this at times can be very challenging.

Socio-political, economic, cultural and technological factors related to the growth of social entrepreneurship
In efforts to develop the theoretical underpinnings for social entrepreneurship, many authors have sought to understand the drivers behind the growth in numbers and popularity of social entrepreneurs and their social enterprises. What they determined is that the factors influencing social entrepreneurship activity are highly contextual, which means that social enterprises in different regions develop unique relationships with their socio-political, economic and cultural environments. The activities of the market, government and the community sectors all have a role to play in the need for, and emergence of social entrepreneurship.In Lecture 4, we delve into a number of the influences that these sectors have upon socially entrepreneurial activity, along with other environmental factors such as changes in cultural values and technological advancements.