Social Entrepreneurship in Non-Munificent Institutional Environments and Implications for Institutional Work: Insights from China

Bhatt, B., Qureshi, I. & Riaz, S. J Bus Ethics (2017)

63 Pages Posted: 6 Feb 2017

See all articles by Babita Bhatt

Babita Bhatt

School of International Relations, IE University

Israr Qureshi

IE Business School

Suhaib Riaz

University of Massachusetts Boston - College of Management

Date Written: February 4, 2017

Abstract

We investigate the research question: Why are there very few social enterprises in China? Our findings unpack four types of institutional challenges to social entrepreneurship, as perceived by social entrepreneurs: norms of a strong role for government; misunderstood or unknown role for social enterprises; non-supportive rules and regulations; and lack of socio-cultural values and beliefs in support of social goals. We contribute to the literature on social enterprises by showing how an institutional environment may be “non-munificent” i.e. non-supportive for the existence of social enterprises and their goals, and we thus address the need for more attention to the institutional environment in which social entrepreneurship takes place. Further, by using Q-Methodology on 42 social entrepreneurs along with illustrative qualitative data from interviews, we address the need to go beyond anecdotal case studies and introduce methodological plurality in social entrepreneurship research. Finally, our findings on institutional challenges provide us with an opportunity to discuss how social entrepreneurs may engage with purposive activities to overcome such challenges, leading us to initiate a conversation between the social entrepreneurship and institutional work literatures.

Keywords: China, institutional environment, institutional work, social enterprise, social entrepreneurship, Q methodology, qualitative study

Suggested Citation

Bhatt, Babita and Qureshi, Israr and Riaz, Suhaib, Social Entrepreneurship in Non-Munificent Institutional Environments and Implications for Institutional Work: Insights from China (February 4, 2017). Bhatt, B., Qureshi, I. & Riaz, S. J Bus Ethics (2017), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2911732

Babita Bhatt

School of International Relations, IE University ( email )

Castellón de la Plana 8
Madrid, 28006
Spain

Israr Qureshi (Contact Author)

IE Business School ( email )

Calle Maria de Molina 12, Bajo
Madrid, Madrid 28006
Spain

Suhaib Riaz

University of Massachusetts Boston - College of Management ( email )

Boston, MA
United States

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