Creating the Social Venture

Social entrepreneurship is a growing area, and we frequently hear of new ventures committed to social change. In academia, however, social entrepreneurship has typically been taught as a ‘version’ of entrepreneurship, ignoring the unique structure, challenges and goals of the social venture. In their new book, Coleman and Kariv draw on the latest theory and research to provide boundaries to the definition of social entrepreneurship, discussing both what it is, and what it is not. The book answers several key questions: Who are social entrepreneurs? What is the process for identifying and solving a social need? What are the differences between for-profit and not-for-profit social ventures? What is the role of innovation? How do we develop high performing firms? How do we measure success? The focus on context allows students to appreciate how social entrepreneurship develops and operates in different countries and cultures, lending a global perspective to the book. Combined with rich pedagogy and a companion website, it provides students with all the learning tools they need to grasp this important subject.

Introduction: Recognizing Social Problems 1. Social Entrepreneurship 2. Non-profit and For-profit Social Ventures 3. Social-driven Processes and Outcomes 4. Global View: The Roleof Culture 5. Stimulating Factors in Social Enterprises 6. Social Entrepreneurs: Who are They? 7. The Process: PromotingResourcefulness and Creative Business Models 8. The Role of Innovation in Developing Solutions for Social Problems 9. Team Dynamics in Social Ventures 10. Financing Non-profit and For-profit Social Ventures 11. The “Social” Venture: Managing Socially and Ethically 12. Making a Sustainable Change 13. Developing High Performing Social Ventures 14. Measuring the Social Venture's Success. Concluding remarks.

Susan Coleman is professor of finance at the University of Hartford, USA. She teaches entrepreneurial finance, corporate finance, and international business. Dafna Kariv is a senior lecturer, researcher, and director of the TempusBiz project and "Young Entrepreneurs" at the College of Management Academic Studies, Israel. She is also a member of the Chair of Entrepreneurship at HEC Montréal, Canada.