Title: The diffusion of a socially responsible innovation: Grameen Bank's credit delivery system

Authors: Nada Kobeissi, Fariborz Damanpour

Addresses: College of Management, Long Island University, C.W. Post, Brookville, NY 11548, USA. ' Department of Management and Global Business, Rutgers University, USA

Abstract: This paper studies an innovative microlending programme that enables the poor to obtain credit without collateral in order to improve their self-employment and socioeconomic opportunities. We identify the theoretical underpinnings of the unique features that made this programme a success and examine characteristics of the environment, organisation and adopters, which facilitated the diffusion of this socially responsible program to approximately 1050 branches of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Finally, we discuss the implications of this programme to alleviate poverty and stimulate the economy in developed countries.

Keywords: social responsibility; diffusion; innovation; microlending; Grameen Bank; financial institution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2003.003943

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2003 Vol.3 No.5/6, pp.563 - 584

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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