Optimization or Bricolage? Overcoming Resource Constraints in Global Social Entrepreneurship

Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, March 2013, Forthcoming

53 Pages Posted: 18 Nov 2012

See all articles by Geoffrey Desa

Geoffrey Desa

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Sandip Basu

City University of New York (CUNY) - Narendra Paul Loomba Department of Management

Date Written: November 17, 2012

Abstract

Resources play a vital role in the development of an entrepreneurial venture. For ventures operating in the public interest, the process of effective resource mobilization can be especially critical to the social mission. However, there has been limited empirical examination of the approaches used by social ventures to mobilize critical resources. We study two processes of resource mobilization -- optimization and bricolage, and examine the antecedent conditions that influence a venture’s selection of these processes. Our theory predicts that environmental munificence and organizational prominence have U-shaped associations with the use of bricolage and positive associations with the use of optimization. We test our hypotheses on a sample of 202 technology social ventures from 42 countries, and discuss implications for the social entrepreneurship and broader entrepreneurship literatures.

Keywords: munificence, prominence, social entrepreneurship, resource mobilization, public interest

Suggested Citation

Desa, Geoffrey and Basu, Sandip, Optimization or Bricolage? Overcoming Resource Constraints in Global Social Entrepreneurship (November 17, 2012). Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, March 2013, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2177185

Geoffrey Desa

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Sandip Basu (Contact Author)

City University of New York (CUNY) - Narendra Paul Loomba Department of Management ( email )

NY
United States

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