Insights from a systematic review of literature on social enterprise and networks

Abstract

Purpose-This paper aims to contribute to better understanding of where and how network concepts, theories and perspectives, organisational networks, and networking practices, are being studied and deployed in social enterprise research. This is done through a systematic review of social enterprise and networks literature in business and management journals. Key trends and developments in this literature, and gaps and limitations, are identified, culminating in discussion of what next for social enterprise and networks research. The papers in this special issue on "Social Enterprise and Networks" are introduced. Design/methodology/approach-A systematic review was undertaken of social enterprise and networks literature in business and management journals. Journals sampled included all those in the Entrepreneurship and Small Business subject area of the Association of Business Schools (ABS) Academic Journal Guide 2018, the journals in the Financial Times 50 research ranking, and selected wider business and society, non-profit management and public administration journals. Findings-Analysis of publishing patterns of social enterprise and networks research finds that such research is growing, and that varied network perspectives, concepts and theories are being deployed. Social enterprise and networks are also being studied globally, using different methodologies. Nevertheless, there remains scope for deeper theoretical engagement, and for a wider range of network theories to be used. More even geographic coverage is also needed, and further insights can be gained through use of alternative methodologies. Research limitations/implications-Discussions in this paper have implications for research through outlining systematically the state of current scholarship on social enterprise and networks. In so doing, insight is provided on what is known about social enterprise and networks. But also on what is not known and where further enquiry is needed. Direction is thus provided for future social enterprise and networks scholarship. Practical implications-In this paper, how, and the extent to which, social enterprise and networks scholarship offers implications for practice and policy is considered. Originality/value-This paper makes a valuable contribution to social enterprise scholarship. It outlines the state of current knowledge and research on social enterprise and networks, identifying where and how relationships between social enterprise and networks have been studied, whilst also providing insights for what next in future social enterprise and networks research.

Managerial ties as determinant of social entrepreneurial intentions: Does gender make a difference?

“…Lastly, much is known about social entrepreneurial behaviors and success in developed nations, there are few studies about SEIs in developing and emerging countries, especially differences among males and females. This study contributes to this emerging (Littlewood & Khan, 2018) research area (Caliendo, Fossen, Kritikos, & Wetter, 2015; Markussen & Røed, 2017; Vossenberg, 2013; Welter, Brush, & De Bruin, 2014).…”

Marketing Scottish social enterprises using a label?

“…Consequently, it is evident that social enterprise is a contested term (Teasdale, 2012) with no widely agreed definition (Life Changes Trust, 2017; Littlewood and Khan, 2018), including no legal definition in any part of the UK (Roy et al, 2015).…”

“…The subject of social enterprise and networks is a growing area (Littlewood and Khan, 2018) so is worth investigating further. Future studies should investigate the degree of communication and cooperation which could be achieved from social enterprise networks collaborating.…”

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“…The second focus is inspired by the critique on inadequate analyses of the spatiality of social entrepreneurship (Amin, Cameron, & Hudson, 20020;Bacq & Janssen, 2011;Muñoz, 2010). This approach contributes to the studies on social enterprise networks (Dufays & Huybrechts, 2014;Littlewood & Khan, 2018) without focusing on them explicitly, as qualified work on this field has already been conducted. Furthermore, studies on networks tend to rely strongly on social network theory (Littlewood & Khan, 2018) and focus on organizations´ and individuals´ network constellations instead of on their actual making.…”

“…This approach contributes to the studies on social enterprise networks (Dufays & Huybrechts, 2014;Littlewood & Khan, 2018) without focusing on them explicitly, as qualified work on this field has already been conducted. Furthermore, studies on networks tend to rely strongly on social network theory (Littlewood & Khan, 2018) and focus on organizations´ and individuals´ network constellations instead of on their actual making. Therefore, a precise focus on collaboration covering diverse theories on the field was considered relevant.…”