Understanding Social Entrepreneurship Based on Self-Evaluations of Organizational Leaders – Insights from an International Survey

In this article, we measure dimensions of social entrepreneurship (organizational orientation, innovation, and entrepreneurial outcome) using the semantic differential technique. A sizable sample (N?=?547) of organizational leaders from the regions of West Africa, East Africa, Scandinavia, and some countries from transitional areas rated a variety of statements regarding their organizations. As a result of a cluster analysis, we propose an explicit characterization: Social entrepreneurship organizations are those which offer social solutions (referred to as social orientation) that are marketable (referred to as market orientation). These organizations approach social problems using revolutionary innovation, which provides a meaningful and higher level of satisfaction for the participants in the system (referred to as creation of a new system). Finally, we discuss and contrast this characterization with the two other organizational forms emerging from a cluster analysis (social service providers and innovation promoters) as well as associated practices in the literature (e.g., corporate social responsibility and corporate philanthropy).