Title: How do social benefits differ within commercial entrepreneurial streams?

Authors: Jasem Almarri; Maqsood Sandhu; John Meewella

Addresses: Oulu Business School, Oulu University, Nupputie 5, 90540, Oulu, Finland ' Faculty of Business and Economics, U.A.E. University, P.O. Box 17555, Al Ain, UAE ' Oulu Business School, Oulu University, Nupputie 5, 90540, Oulu, Finland

Abstract: This research investigates how social benefits differ within the commercial entrepreneurship streams. A framework for social benefits within commercial entrepreneurship streams is presented with special emphasis on for-profit, charities, social ventures, community-led social ventures and non-profit organisations. A mixed research methodology including focus groups, in-depth interviews and semi-structured questionnaires was used. Main findings are that the commercial entrepreneurship can benefit from social entrepreneurship and vice versa. This study explores avenues of value-adding for-profit driven organisations in terms of holding accountability, higher levels of goodwill and public preference and increased levels of social-like applications. Study intends to contribute into areas of increased awareness of social benefits within corporate sector and to shed some light in bridging the gap between the 'business' and 'non-profit' sectors.

Keywords: sustainability; non-profit organisations; social entrepreneurship; commercial entrepreneurship; corporate social responsibility; CSR; social benefits; charities; social ventures; for-profit organisations; accountability; goodwill; public preference.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2013.056726

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2013 Vol.6 No.6, pp.702 - 734

Published online: 09 Nov 2013 *

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