How to Grow Successful Social Entrepreneurship Firms? Key Ideas from Complexity Theory

Mary Han () and Bill McKelvey ()
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Mary Han: Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, M5G 2C5, Canada
Bill McKelvey: UCLA Anderson School of Management, Los Angeles, California, USA

Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), 2016, vol. 24, issue 03, 243-280

Abstract: Social entrepreneurship (SE) is increasingly popular in academia and practice, but unified theoretical explanations about the performance of social entrepreneurship firms (SEFs) is missing (Santos, 2012). This deficiency motivates us to theorize about SE from a complexity science perspective. We draw from complexity science to analyze and explain how SEFs emerge, achieve performance, and grow. We link complexity science with SE so as to add explanatory value as well as offering guidelines for better SEF performance toward achieving social objectives while avoiding the chasm of chaos. Our theoretical framework offers complexity insights for building effective networks, and accountability, as well as for improving trust, legitimacy, and sound governance. Drawing on complexity theory to better explain the key elements necessary for improving SEFs’ performance and growth, enhances the probability of meeting the challenge of the so-called ‘double bottom-line’: achieving continuous positive social impacts while attaining financial health.

Keywords: Complexity theory; social entrepreneurship; performance and growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1142/S0218495816500102

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