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).
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
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
Compare and contrast
Management
SE & SI
knowledge
knowledge
Skills & Competencies
Skills & Competencies
Vision & Social Value
Vision and Social Values
Internships
Interdisciplinary internships
RISK
INNOVATION
PROACTIVE INITIATIVE
HIGH
LOW
SE Continuum
PLAN
Mapping Route to Destination…
Social
Entrepreneurship
Social
Intrapreneurship
Human Service
organization
management
Community
and
stakeholder
Today…
Cross sector
alliances
Tipple
bottom
line
SE & SI
Steps
Implementation
science for
launching
Resources and people
Intervention/program/organization
structure
Examining competency and competitive
advantage
Engaging community & understanding issue comprehensively
From Visioning to managing
Relationships between
concepts
SE MGMT
SI
S Ent
SE
SE MGMT
SI
• Creative/Innovative…
• Risk taking
• Proactive
• Ensure you are
generating enough
income to live on
• Supported by SE mgmt
SE and SW Education


Macro practice courses in social work

Management

Community organizing/planning/development

Policy practice

Handful of schools offer courses in social entrepreneurship.
SE education: more management focused; monodisciplinary; Limited attention to community participation, cultural
competency, development of collective vision with community, and focus on “root cause.”


University of TX, Austin: Exception.
Move from monomultiintertrans-disciplinary educational model for SE.
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
Key faculty from
relevant
disciplines/prof
Key administrators
in College/Univ
Facilitator of
Process
SE EDU
MODEL
Students from
specified
disciplines/prof
Community stake
holders
Funders/businesses
SW:
Interdisciplina
ry
Bio,psy
Cash
Social work borrows from diverse
disciplines…
Social Work
Eco,pol,soc,
Proposal….

Social work profession well poised to lead/facilitate transdisciplinary
education…

Monica Nandan,

Social Work

nandanm@umkc.edu

816-235-1025