Promote and Practice Social Entrepreneurship:
Social Work Education
Presented By:Monica Nandan, Ph.D., MSW, MBA
WHO ARE social entrepreneurs Dees, Emerson, and Economy (2001) define a social entrepreneur as “innovative, opportunity-oriented, resourceful,
value-creating change agents” (p. 4).
Gray, Healy, and Crofts (2003) view social entrepreneurs as innovators who balance an organization’s economic and social goals, “who value local initiative and participation” (p. 148), and who seek “social justice outcomes” to “guide the mission and evaluation of social entrepreneurial activity” (p. 149).
Light (2006) defines a social entrepreneur as “an individual, group, network, organization, or alliance of organizations that seeks sustainable, large-scale change through pattern-breaking ideas in what governments, nonprofits, and businesses do to address significant social problems” (p. 50).
Sharir and Lerner (2006) perceive social entrepreneurs as “social change agents” who “create and sustain social value without being limited to resources currently in hand” (p. 3).
, Skoll Foundation views social entrepreneurs as transformational change agents who “pioneer innovative and systemic approaches for meeting the needs of the marginalized—the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised—populations that lack the financial means or political clout to achieve lasting benefits on their own” (p. 41).
Social Entrepreneurs… Act with the intent to eliminate societal distress, rather than appease it.
Are a new generation of social change agents implementing innovative solutions to change social equilibrium in sustainable fashion.
Emerge primarily when prevailing wisdom and paradigm unable to explain and solve complex issues.
Continuously create social value.
SE vs. SE Social entrepreneurship is not the same as starting/running a social
enterprise.
What is social enterprise? An organization that advances its social mission through earned income strategies Social enterprise could be a tool/ a mechanism for a social entrepreneurs to bring
innovation to fruition.
What is social intrapreneurship New ventures created within an organization, by developing an innovative
product/service/process that involves risk, is proactive, and addresses an issue differently than in the past.
What do social intrapreneurs do? Doing things outside the “norm” and SOP. Acting on opportunity without being limited by resources Proactive change agents within organizations Work with the leadership of the organization
What is social service management Tasks fall into following categories:
Planning
Budgeting & Financial management
Human resource management
Program development
Resource development
Data management
Marketing
Governance
What can we accentuate in social work education… Improved networking skills
Working across systems and disciplines simultaneously
Risk taking
Recognizing opportunity
Information coupling
Tolerating ambiguity
Ability to adapt quickly.
SE Continuum
RISK
INNOVATION
HIG
HH
IGHLO
WLO
W
PROACTIVE INITIATIVE
Similarities & Differences Similarities in knowledge, values and competencies
Differences in knowledge, values, competencies
What does each one create/added value, each time?
Why is SE and SI relevant for social work managers? Funding & Funder criteria
Impact Sustainability Ethics Innovation Social Work Managers as change agents
Compare and contrast
Mapping Route to Destination…
Today…
Triple bottom
line
Steps
CAUSES: DOMINO EFFECT
WHERE TO INTERVENE
From Visioning to managing
SE and SW Education
Multi/inter/trans Disciplinary Models for SE education
Multidisciplinary: each discipline offers courses specific to them. Interdisciplinary: faculty and students plan/interact/synthesize knowledge from
partnering disciplines Transdisciplinary: community members/beneficiaries/stakeholders participate in
curriculum development and implementation.
Proposed Model for SE Education
Social work borrows from diverse disciplines…
Eco, Pol,Soc,Social WorkCashBio, Psy
Social work profession well poised to lead/facilitate transdisciplinary education…for Social Entrepreneurship. MPA and MBA focus on internal characteristics and tasks (e.g., finance, marketing,
budgeting etc) MSW macro practice focus on external tasks (e.g., community organizing, mobilizing,
community development etc). Time is right to collaboratively teach.
NASW Ex. Director: calling for social workers to reinvent themselves (2009)
Proposal….
Monica Nandan,
Department of Social Work and Human Services
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA.