Challenges of Being a Social Enterprise: When Being a Business for Good Means Being a Good Business
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Date
2023
Authors
Maier, J.A.
Kulik, C.
Perera, S.
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Conference paper
Citation
Changing management values and practices for a sustainable future: 36th ANZAM conference, 2023, pp.829-846
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36th Australia New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) (5 Dec 2023 - 7 Dec 2023 : Wellington, Australia)
Abstract
Social enterprises rely on the goodwill of observers, but observers may not understand the dual goals (social and financial) that drive social enterprises. We interviewed Australian social enterprise founders to examine their real-world experiences. Informed by moral licensing theory, our findings demonstrate that a history of good deeds may be a burden for social enterprises rather than a benefit. Specifically, social enterprises’ good deeds may raise observer expectations to unrealistic levels that are impossible to meet. We identified several distinct challenges that arise from observers’ expectations alongside alternative strategies that founders use to manage those challenges. Our findings contribute to the moral licensing literature by demonstrating that observers may conflate organisations and founders, making both vulnerable to backlash.
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Link to a related website: https://www.anzam.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Conference-proceedings-2023-NZ_BC9723_ANZAM-Papers-and-Abstracts-2023-Conference-Solutions_DEC-2023_V9.pdf, URL of conference paper
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Copyright 2023 The author(s)