Walter Mswaka

Corporate governance practices and outcomes in social enterprises in the UK

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the growth of social enterprise in the UK in the context of the renewed interest in the creative use of organisations with a social mission to complement public service delivery. Given the impact of globalisation and increased demands for effective social welfare interventions, this paper specifically focuses on the nature and type of social enterprise governance models and how they influence their outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – The study utilises a mixed method approach involving the complementary use of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Findings – The paper finds that the way in which the social enterprise governance structure is designed ultimately influences its outcomes. In particular, those with stewardship governance models tend to perform better than those with democratic models of governance. This leads to a conclusion that in the social context of the UK, social enterprise should aim for a paradigm shift in the design...

Legal structure and outcomes of social enterprise: The case of South Yorkshire, UK

Over the past two decades a discourse has emerged on social enterprise as a powerful intervention for addressing socio-economic deprivation in communities across the globe. Although the concept is increasingly attracting academic interest, there are still several areas requiring further scrutiny. One such key area is how the legal structures of social enterprises influence their outcomes. Drawing on a qualitative case study approach in South Yorkshire UK, this study contributes to the ongoing debate on social enterprise by providing insights into the nature of legal structures and related operational issues across the region. The findings revealed that type of legal structure is intricately linked to social enterprises’ ability to achieve their objectives. Rather than rely on traditional legal structures, social enterprises in South Yorkshire have adopted innovative legal vehicles that help them to achieve financial sustainability while at the same time maintaining their social ethos.

Understanding social enterprises in the United Kingdom: the case of South Yorkshire

Purpose This study aims to analyse the development of social enterprises in the UK, in the context of the increased need for creative solutions to ameliorate deprivation and deliver effective public services. Design/methodology/approach The investigation draws on a mixed method approach from a postal survey of 102 social enterprises complemented by detailed analysis of two selected cases and key informant interviews. Findings The results of the study show that there is a paradigm shift in the practice and conceptualisation of social enterprises in South Yorkshire, as they are increasingly taking a more corporate approach to achieve their outcomes. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to social enterprises in South Yorkshire, UK. Further comparative analysis in other regions and social contexts is required to explore if these results are widely applicable. Practical implications This study is of potential benefit to researchers and those involved in formulating policies for the development and support of social enterprise. Originality/value The study contributes to the extant literature by investigation of the development of social enterprise in competitive markets, which is an area that requires further academic scrutiny. The South Yorkshire region presents an interesting case that extends our understanding of the operations of social enterprises in the UK, given the high levels of deprivation because of the steady decline of its industrial base (Bache and Chapman, 2008).

Transnational Diaspora Entrepreneurship: Do Local Social Networks in Home Country Matter?

This study explores the role of local networks of transnational diaspora entrepreneurs in their countries of origin (COO). Drawing on findings from two extensive case studies, we show that contrary to current literature, local networks particularly family ties maybe counterproductive of diaspora entrepreneurs as they engage in transnational entrepreneurship. We discuss the implications of our findings in relation to literature particularly when diaspora entrepreneurs’ COO are developing countries, saddled with weak institutional arrangements and environments.

Book review: Understanding Social Enterprise: Theory and Practice

Despite the increasing academic interest in the nature and practice of social enterprise, much still remains unknown about the concept. I was therefore interested to see how this book extends our knowledge and understanding of social enterprise both on a theoretical and practical level. Accordingly, the book provides a number of interesting cases in different socioeconomic contexts and geographical areas, offering insight into the variegated nature of social enterprise. The cases are also augmented by relevant theoretical perspectives and frameworks that extend our knowledge and understanding of the development of social enterprise.