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).

Social Entrepreneurs… Act with the intent to eliminate societal distress, rather than appease it.

Are a new generation of social change agents implementing innovative solutions to change social equilibrium in sustainable fashion.

Emerge primarily when prevailing wisdom and paradigm unable to explain and solve complex issues.

Continuously create social value.

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

What can we accentuate in social work education… Improved networking skills

Working across systems and disciplines simultaneously

Risk taking

Recognizing opportunity

Information coupling

Tolerating ambiguity

Ability to adapt quickly.

SE Continuum

RISK

INNOVATION

HIG

HH

IGHLO

WLO

W

PROACTIVE INITIATIVE

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 Ethics Innovation Social Work Managers as change agents

Compare and contrast

Mapping Route to Destination…

Today…

Triple bottom

line

Steps

CAUSES: DOMINO EFFECT

WHERE TO INTERVENE

From Visioning to managing

SE and SW Education

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

Social work borrows from diverse disciplines…

Eco, Pol,Soc,Social WorkCashBio, Psy

Social work profession well poised to lead/facilitate transdisciplinary education…for Social Entrepreneurship. MPA and MBA focus on internal characteristics and tasks (e.g., finance, marketing,

budgeting etc) MSW macro practice focus on external tasks (e.g., community organizing, mobilizing,

community development etc). Time is right to collaboratively teach.

NASW Ex. Director: calling for social workers to reinvent themselves (2009)

Proposal….

Monica Nandan,

Department of Social Work and Human Services

Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA.