Vision and Values: The Relationship between the Visions and Actions of Social Entrepreneurs

Paola Grenier

Chapter 4 in Values and Opportunities in Social Entrepreneurship, 2010, pp 52-70 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract Social entrepreneurs are consistently described as ‘visionary’. The quotations above suggest that the defining characteristic of social entrepreneurs is that they have a vision which they pursue relentlessly, until that vision has been enacted and fulfilled. Vision is commonly associated with entrepreneurial behaviour, particularly in terms of leadership skills. The field of social entrepreneurship research and theory is in the early stages of development, and the role of vision and the relationship between vision and action has not been a focus for research. Yet it is suggested here that without more serious attempts to understand what is ‘visionary’ about social entrepreneurs the field of social entrepreneurship risks becoming overly focused on managerial issues, such as organizational growth strategies and metrics, and losing touch with what is exciting and distinct about social entrepreneurship. This is an exploratory study into how social entrepreneurs express their visions, and how their visions guide and shape their actions.

Keywords: Social Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial Intention; Voluntary Organization; Social Entrepreneur; Entrepreneurial Behaviour (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-230-29802-6_4

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DOI: 10.1057/9780230298026_4

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