Social Entrepreneurship: The Case for Definition
Social Entrepreneurship: The Case for Definition
By Roger L. Martin & Sally Osberg
Stanford Social Innovation Review Spring 2007
Copyright © 2007 by Leland Stanford Jr. University All Rights Reserved
MUHAMMAD YUNUS
Access to small loans has helped millions of people around the globe dramatically improve their lives and the economic health of their communities. The man behind this capitalist revolution is Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and father of microcredit.
b y R O G E R L . M A RT I N & S A L LY O S B E R G
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF (TOP LEFT AND RIGHT) FRIENDS OF GRAMEEN; (BOTTOM) THE SKOLL FOUNDATION
the case for ocial entrepreneurship is attracting growing amounts of talent, money, and attention. But along with its increasing popularity has come less certainty about what exactly a social entrepreneur is and does. As a result, all sorts of activities are now being called social entrepreneurship. Some say that a more inclusive term is all for the good, but the authors argue that it’s time for a more rigorous definition.
S www.ssireview.org s p r i n g 2 0 0 7 / S TA N F O R D S O C I A L I N N O VAT I O N R E V I E W
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so cial en tre pre neur ship: the case forde
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THE NASCENT FIELD OF social entrepreneurship is growing rapidly and attracting increased attention from many sectors. The term itself shows up frequently in the media, is referenced by public officials, has become common on university campuses, and informs the strategy of several prominent social sector organizations, including Ashoka and the Schwab and Skoll foundations. The reasons behind the popularity of social entrepreneurship are many. On the most basic level, there’s something inherently interesting and appealing about entrepreneurs and the stories of why and how they do what they do. People are attracted to social entrepreneurs like last year’s Nobel Peace
By Roger L. Martin & Sally Osberg
Stanford Social Innovation Review Spring 2007
Copyright © 2007 by Leland Stanford Jr. University All Rights Reserved
MUHAMMAD YUNUS
Access to small loans has helped millions of people around the globe dramatically improve their lives and the economic health of their communities. The man behind this capitalist revolution is Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and father of microcredit.
b y R O G E R L . M A RT I N & S A L LY O S B E R G
So cial en tre pre neur ship:
• • • • •
def • i • ni • tion
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF (TOP LEFT AND RIGHT) FRIENDS OF GRAMEEN; (BOTTOM) THE SKOLL FOUNDATION
the case for ocial entrepreneurship is attracting growing amounts of talent, money, and attention. But along with its increasing popularity has come less certainty about what exactly a social entrepreneur is and does. As a result, all sorts of activities are now being called social entrepreneurship. Some say that a more inclusive term is all for the good, but the authors argue that it’s time for a more rigorous definition.
S www.ssireview.org s p r i n g 2 0 0 7 / S TA N F O R D S O C I A L I N N O VAT I O N R E V I E W
29
t
• •
30
so cial en tre pre neur ship: the case forde
• • •
THE NASCENT FIELD OF social entrepreneurship is growing rapidly and attracting increased attention from many sectors. The term itself shows up frequently in the media, is referenced by public officials, has become common on university campuses, and informs the strategy of several prominent social sector organizations, including Ashoka and the Schwab and Skoll foundations. The reasons behind the popularity of social entrepreneurship are many. On the most basic level, there’s something inherently interesting and appealing about entrepreneurs and the stories of why and how they do what they do. People are attracted to social entrepreneurs like last year’s Nobel Peace