Social entrepreneurship: a conceptual taxonomy

Abstract

Social entrepreneurship is a pivotal theme that generates debates both in academia and industry. Even though the concept of social entrepreneurship has gained traction and become influential in a wide spectrum of areas, such as sociology, social work, the economy, and politics, an ambiguity persists with regard to its models and meanings. In this context, the paper aims to clarify the definition of social entrepreneurship by considering how the concept has informed a variety of theoretical approaches used to explore socioeconomic reality. This paper distinguishes between three perspectives: social entrepreneurship as a cultural orientation, social entrepreneurship as a management strategy, and social entrepreneurship as a political philosophy. Such a clarification could help entrepreneurial studies reach a new level of understanding by providing an analytical framework to navigate the intricate landscape of what constitutes the double and triple bottom lines.