Achieving sustainability through Schumpeterian social entrepreneurship: The role of social enterprises. (20th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rahdari, Amir; Sepasi, Sahar; Moradi, Mohammad
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 137(2016)
• Page Start: 347
• Page End: 360
• Publication Date: 2016-11-20
• Subjects: Sustainability -- Corporate social responsibility -- Social entrepreneurship -- Social enterprise -- Sustainable development; CBO community-based organizations -- CC corporate citizenship -- CIC Community Interest Companies -- CSE corporate social entrepreneurship -- CSR corporate social responsibility -- ESG Environmental, Social, and Governance -- MDG Millennium Development Goals -- SDG Sustainable Development Goals -- SE Social entrepreneurship -- SI Social intrapreneurship -- SBM Sustainable Business Model -- SMEs Small and Medium-sized Enterprises -- SRI Socially responsible investing -- UNCED UN Conference on Environment and Development; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.159
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: One of the major scholarly challenges of social entrepreneurship is the lack of an established epistemology that partly contributes to and/or stems from a conflict of discourses. This study is an attempt to pave the way for the enhancement of the field of social entrepreneurship, using Schumpeter's perspective developed in his magnum opus "Theorie der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung", by highlighting the role it can play in transforming business into an engine for sustainable development with an emphasis on the role that social enterprises can play. The study employs concepts of corporate citizenship, social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, social enterprise, and sustainable development to form a robust conceptual understanding of the field. A canvas alongside a set of tools are developed to enlighten the way towards achieving sustainable development. The study is primarily of interest to socio-economic policy makers and social entrepreneurship scholars and benefits social and business enterprises as well. The implications of the canvas are tripartite. Firstly, the canvas demonstrates the main elements of the current socio-economic ecosystem and how they could work in unison towards the realization of sustainable development agenda. Secondly, it helps to connect diverse yet related concepts in a pragmatic manner and, as a result, lays the foundation for the realization of Sustainable Development Goals of post-2015 development agenda of the United Nations with an emphasis on the role of social enterprises. Thirdly, the canvas, in conjunction with the concomitant analyses, helps companies to understand the level of maturity and integration of their sustainable and responsible strategies. Finally, the study highlights the role social enterprises and sustainable businesses can play in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Highlights: A conceptual confluence of social responsibility, entrepreneurship and sustainability is presented. The study used Schumpeterian stance on social entrepreneurship. The role of social enterprises is highlighted. The study helps to establish a robust epistemology for social entrepreneurship. A canvas and a set of tools are presented to guide the way towards achieving sustainability.