Pathways to social value and social change: An integrative review of the social entrepreneurship literature

Social entrepreneurship has emerged as an important means of addressing grand challenges. Although research on the topic has accelerated, scholars have yet to articulate an overarching framework that links the different pathways taken by social entrepreneurs with the positive effects of these efforts. To address this shortcoming, we conducted a systematic literature review which enabled us to conceptually differentiate between social value and social change as distinct outcomes of social entrepreneurship and identify seven pathways for achieving these outcomes. Building on our analysis, we outline a research agenda for questions pertaining to: the dynamics between social value and social change; how contextual factors and social entrepreneurs influence various pathways; design principles of business models and innovations that facilitate social value and social change; and defining, measuring, and ensuring accountability for social value and social change.

Automated summary

Social entrepreneurship is an important approach to addressing grand challenges, yet there is a lack of overarching framework linking the pathways taken by social entrepreneurs to their positive effects. To address this gap, a literature review was conducted to differentiate between social value and social change as distinct outcomes and identify seven pathways to achieve these outcomes. Based on this analysis, a research agenda is outlined to explore the dynamics, influence of contextual factors and entrepreneurs, design principles of business models and innovations, and accountability for social value and social change.