Social Business Enterprise

Introduction

The term Social enterprise ' is generally understood to mean organizations that operate in the open marketplace while treating other social goals . The usual interest in social enterprise stems from a number of interrelated trends including expanded reliance of non-profit organizations on revenue earned through sales of services and commercial ventures , closer ties between non-profit organizations and commercial businesses , and a growing emphasis on social goals and social responsibility by business corporations . In the recent time there are some who claim that social enterprises constitute a new form of organization

, generically different from conventional non-profit organizations or prototypical for-profit businesses , and are deserving of special treatment in public policy . In this , we will consider this contention by reviewing the trends leading to social enterprise initiatives , exploring the various organizational options for pursuing social enterprise , and considering the financial and governance implications of pursuing social enterprise within alternative organizational formats . I will make use of the concept of organizational identity ' to connect the intent of those who engage in social enterprise with the organizational forms chosen to accommodate these intentions . I will conclude that most types of social enterprise are accommodated by conventional non-profit and for-profit forms although adjustments in their financial and governance parameters could make these different forms of social enterprise more effective . I will also find some justification for promoting new organizational forms of enterprise , combining aspects of non-profit and for-profit , for accommodating other variants of social enterprise . Michael O 'Neill and Dennis R . Young eds (1988...