The combination of the traditional way of the capitalistic thinking company, which aspires to maximise its profits (homo economicus), and the selfless approach of non-profit organisations, which contribute to society and are dependent on generous and periodic donations, create a new and sustainable business concept. This concept has emerged – mainly during the last decade – within the broader context of Social Entrepreneurship and is defined as Social Business.
Inspired by the energy of Muhammad Yunus and the time the author spent in Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries on a global scale, this research will provide a scientific approach to the sphere of Social Entrepreneurship and Social Business as a specific and innovative business model. Furthermore, this academic work examines the sustainability of the concept, evaluating it deductively by means of deriving the necessary information from several case studies and expert interviews carried out among others with Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Laureate and founder of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, as well as Frédéric Dalsace, head of the Social Business Chair at HEC University, Paris. Finally, the thesis conveys an outlook on the upcoming development of Social Entrepreneurship and especially Social Business as well as proposes steps to be taken in order to guarantee the sustainability of Social Businesses within a macroeconomic and microeconomic perspective, based on the academic research and expert interviews.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Social Entrepreneurship (SE) – Concept and Facets
- 2.1. Definitions of relevant terms
- 2.1.1. Definition of “Entrepreneurship”
- 2.1.2. Definition of \"Social\"
- 2.1.3. Definition and Scope of Social Entrepreneurship
- 2.2. Social Entrepreneurship – a Concept of Systematic Change
- 2.3. Social Business (SB) vs. Social Enterprises
- 2.3.1. Most Common Concepts of Social Enterprises
- 2.3.2. Double and Triple Bottom Line
- 2.3.3. Two Forms of Social Business
- 2.3.4. The Seven Principles of Social Businesses
- 2.3.5. The Midas Touch and the Ancient Greeks
- 2.4. Key Characteristics of Successful Social Entrepreneurs
- 2.4.1. Social Commitment as Leitmotif
- 2.4.2. Social Entrepreneurs as the Best Fundament for SB
- 2.5. Social Business vs. Corporate Social Responsibility
- 2.6. Social Business vs Charity and Philanthropic Institutions
- 2.7. The Base of the Pyramid as a Parallel Development
- 2.7.1. Definition and Brief Overview of the BoP
- 2.7.2. Breaching the Gap between BoP and Social Business
- 2.8. Interim Conclusion
- 2.1. Definitions of relevant terms
- 3. Applied Social Business in Reality and its Evaluation
- 3.1. Applications of Social Businesses as Role Models
- 3.1.1. Grameen Bank - the Eradication of Poverty
- 3.1.2. Grameen Danone Food - the Fight against Malnutrition
- 3.1.3. Grameen Shakti - Commitment to Renewable Energies
- 3.1.4. Grameen Veolia - the Provision of Arsenic Free Water
- 3.1.5. Grameen BASF - a German-Bangladeshi Cooperation
- 3.1.6. Grameen Otto Group and Other Social Businesses
- 3.2. Critics on Social Business
- 3.1. Applications of Social Businesses as Role Models
- 4. Sustainable Development as Social Business' Overall Objective
- 4.1. Definition of Sustainable Development
- 4.2. Sustainable Development within the SE Sphere
- 4.2.1. Sustainable Performance and Methods of Measurement
- 4.2.2. The Third Sector and its Activity
- 4.2.3. Ethically Conscious Consumers Pursue Sustainability
- 4.2.4. LOHAS as a Sustainable Consumer Category
- 4.2.5. Stern Review on Climate Change as a Present Excursus
- 4.3. Interim Conclusion
- 5. Outlook
- 5.1. Public awareness of the Social Business concept
- 5.2. Expansion of the Third Sector to enhance its efficiency
- 5.3. Establishment of a sustainable infrastructure for SB
- 5.4. Social Entrepreneurship at Business Schools
- 5.4.1. Social Competence among the Top Management
- 5.4.2. Social Entrepreneurship at Business Schools
- 5.5. Conclusion Mark
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the social business concept, its origins, its key characteristics, and its potential impact on sustainable development.
- Definition and scope of social entrepreneurship
- Comparison of social business with other forms of social enterprises
- Role of social entrepreneurs in establishing and leading social businesses
- Relationship between social business and sustainable development
- Evaluation of practical examples of social businesses
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of social business, providing a brief overview of the concept and its significance in the context of sustainable development.
- Chapter 2: Social Entrepreneurship (SE) – Concept and Facets: This chapter examines the concept of social entrepreneurship, including its definition, key features, and distinct characteristics. It explores the different forms of social enterprises and differentiates them from traditional businesses. It also analyzes the role of social entrepreneurs and their contribution to societal change.
- Chapter 3: Applied Social Business in Reality and its Evaluation: This chapter presents real-world examples of social businesses, including their successes and challenges. It analyzes the contributions of these businesses to various social and environmental issues, and discusses the impact of social business on achieving sustainable development goals.
- Chapter 4: Sustainable Development as Social Business' Overall Objective: This chapter delves into the concept of sustainable development and its relationship with social business. It explores how social businesses contribute to achieving sustainable development goals by addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.
- Chapter 5: Outlook: This chapter discusses the future of social business, considering its potential for growth and impact. It examines factors that will influence its development and outlines recommendations for promoting the adoption of social business as a sustainable business model.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work focuses on social business as a sustainable business concept, examining its roots in social entrepreneurship and its contribution to achieving sustainable development. Key terms and concepts explored include: social entrepreneurship, social enterprises, double and triple bottom line, social entrepreneurs, social commitment, base of the pyramid, sustainable development, sustainable performance, third sector, ethical consumption, LOHAS, and social competence.
- Quote paper
- Markus Beck (Author), 2010, Social Business as a Sustainable Business Concept, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/153897
