University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

Foundation, benefit society in general, with an emphasis on those who are
2005
marginalized and poor
Dart, 2004 The changes and transformations from conventionally
understood non profit to social enterprise are stark: from
distinct nonprofit to hybridized nonprofit-for-profit; from a
prosocial mission bottom line to a double bottom line of
mission and money; from conventionally understood non profit
services to the use of entrepreneurial and corporate planning
and business design and concepts; and from a dependence on
top-line donations, member fees, and government revenue to a
frequently increased focus on bottom-line earned revenue and
Mort,
Weerawardena
e Carnegie,
2006
return on investment
A multidimensional construct involving the expression of
entrepreneurially virtuous behaviour to achieve the social
mission [...]. The ability to recognize social value creating
opportunities and key decision- making characteristics of
innovation, proactiveness and risk taking
Johnson, 2000 Social entrepreneurship is emerging as an innovative approach
for dealing with complex social needs. With its emphasis on
problem-solving and social innovation, socially entrepreneurial
activities blur the traditional boundaries between the public,
private and non-profit sector, and
United Kingdom
(UK)
government’s
Department of
Trade and
Industry (2002)
emphasize hybrid models of for-profit and non-profit activities
A business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses
are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in
the community, rather than being driven by the need to
maximise profit for shareholder and owners’.
412
The analysis of the definitions of SE, presented in Table 3.1, highlights two main
issues. First, the definition of the concept is clearly influenced by the frame of
reference (profit, non-profit and public sector). Second, the concept of SE is linked to
a perspective of innovation and change from the recognition of un-satisfied social
needs.
The debate on the Social Enterprises to may be reduced to two different schools of
thought. The first analyzes the SE from a narrow perspective on the sector of
nonprofit organizations. The second is accompanied by an expanded perspective on
the SE, where the key element is not the field of reference, but rather the contents of
the business brought in a specific social context.