The motivational values of social entrepreneurs

Abstract

The main goal of this research is to understand what kind of motivational values social entrepreneurs have (motivational types of values), how social entrepreneurs prioritize these values (value prioritization) and if these values had an impact on becoming a social entrepreneur and continuing to work as one (impact of the values). The research on social entrepreneurship has largely ignored for-profit social entrepreneurship and the purpose of this research is to contribute to this shortcoming by taking the for-profit entrepreneurs’ perspective. A qualitative case study was chosen as a research method and the empirical data was gathered by interviewing for-profit social entrepreneurs using a theme interview.

This research adapts Schwartz’s (1992, 1994) theory on motivational types of values. This case study suggests that there is congruence in some of the motivational values among the for-profit entrepreneurs. The motivational values found seem to confirm the general conception of social entrepreneurship found in scholar literature. Reflecting on Schwartz’s theory on motivational types of values, some conflicting values were found and the implication of these conflicting values were discussed. The empirical data revealed that personal values had influenced the social venture creation to some extent.

Through values the personal experiences, the desire to make a change and the will to do something meaningful in one’s life had all influenced the decision to establish a social enterprise.