Managing Uncertainty in Small and Micro Social Enterprises

Abstract

Small and micro social enterprises deal with meeting unmet or inadequately met needs of marginalized people and communities by creating values for them. While organizing and focusing their efforts on doing this entrepreneurially, they are constantly buffeted by complexities and uncertainties. Most of these enterprises are initiated and led by committed social activists who become ‘accidental managers.' In their attempts to continue being relevant and committed to their true mission, these social entrepreneurs resort to novel methods through a unique framework called the Cynefin-Bricolage Framework that is essentially an ‘analysis-solution' tool for solving critical problems associated with uncertainties in organizational contexts for small social enterprises. This chapter uses two case studies from Nepal which deploy this framework effectively, setting an example of good practice for other small and micro social enterprises, with significant relevance to the sector as a whole.