Social Entrepreneurship Opportunities via Distant Socialization and Social Value Creation

Shah Muhammad Kamran, Mahvish Kanwal Khaskhely, Abdelmohsen A. Nassani, Mohamed Haffar and Muhammad Moinuddin Qazi Abro
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Shah Muhammad Kamran: Institute of Science, Technology and Development, Mehran University, Jamshoro 76062, Pakistan
Mahvish Kanwal Khaskhely: Institute of Science, Technology and Development, Mehran University, Jamshoro 76062, Pakistan
Abdelmohsen A. Nassani: Department of Management, College of Business Administration, King Saud University, Riyadh 11587, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed Haffar: Department of Management, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B12 0YB, UK
Muhammad Moinuddin Qazi Abro: Institute of Science, Technology and Development, Mehran University, Jamshoro 76062, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: Social entrepreneurs are catalysts for social change on account of social value creation and opportunity identification, thereby improving the quality of life. Their contribution to society is particularly significant in times of crises and pandemics. Hence, the world health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for social entrepreneurship across the globe. Despite social entrepreneurship’s relevance in social value creation, the studies regarding opportunity identification in times of social distancing are particularly rare. This constructivist-qualitative research fills the gap by employing the EDraw Mind Map tool to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic in general, and social distancing in particular, have shaped entrepreneurial opportunities for social innovation. The findings from content analysis reveal that ICT-based services and industry 4.0 hold a promising future during and post-COVID-19 scenario. They can facilitate a transformation of the threats of social distancing into distant socialization benefits and demand fulfillment. Furthermore, the study contributes to providing a comprehensive depiction of the myriad of opportunities created by social entrepreneurs worldwide. It also guides aspiring social entrepreneurs to adopt such technologies and aim for social integration to ensure quality mental health, education, employment, and manufacturing services in low-resource and developing countries’ contexts, as they are severely impacted by the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; social entrepreneurship opportunities; distant socialization; social value creation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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