Title: Becoming a social entrepreneur: understanding motivations using life story analysis

Authors: Ronit Yitshaki, Fredric Kropp

Addresses: Graduate Program in Organizations, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel. ' Graduate School of International Policy and Management, Monterey Institute of International Studies, 460 Pierce Street, Monterey, CA 93940, USA

Abstract: Using the life story method, 18 social bricoleurs (small scale social entrepreneurs) from eight countries were interviewed to identify motivations in becoming social entrepreneurs. Motivations included pull factors, such as an awareness of social injustice, and push factors, such as job dissatisfaction. Analysis indicates that social bricoleur motivations are similar in different cultures. When referring to the present or future, many social entrepreneurs seek scalability, i.e., an expansion of their vision and actions evolving from small scale organisations to larger organisations that serve multiple populations and needs.

Keywords: social entrepreneurs; social bricoleurs; life story analysis; social entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial motivation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2011.042061

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2011 Vol.7 No.3, pp.319 - 331

Published online: 27 Sep 2014 *

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