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Rethinking Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprises: A Three-Dimensional Perspective

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Social Entrepreneurship

Part of the book series: International Studies in Entrepreneurship ((volume 29))

Abstract

This chapter enriches the theory of social entrepreneurship by rethinking social entrepreneurship in a three-dimensional disciplinary perspective. In order to confirm the extraordinary features of social entrepreneurship and social enterprises in creating social value and achieving social outcomes, a three-dimensional development and value view of social enterprises are proposed. Entrepreneurship is held to be a family of three dimensions, consisting of commercial entrepreneurship, humanistic entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship. In the chapter we argue that such an approach could bring fresh development to social entrepreneurship as well as to commercial entrepreneurship, not only for a deeper understanding of different parts of social entrepreneurship, but also as a basis for understanding that the model presented could influence the future work of institutions, the policy measures to be taken, and the fact that this model will make possible a better understanding of the phenomena. In fact, the model, which integrates commercial entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and humanistic entrepreneurship, is a tool for describing these three different dimensions. In this chapter, the model is developed, while its policy implications will be considered later in the book.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MidSweden University, Östersund, Sweden

    Anders Lundström

  2. International Institute of Triple Helix (IITH), Palo Alto, USA

    Chunyan Zhou

  3. MidSweden University, Shenyang University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China

    Chunyan Zhou

Authors
  1. Anders Lundström
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  2. Chunyan Zhou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anders Lundström .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. MidSweden University, Östersund, Sweden

    Anders Lundström

  2. MidSweden University, Shenyang, Beijing, People's Republic of China

    Chunyan Zhou

  3. MidSweden University, Östersund, Sweden

    Yvonne von Friedrichs

  4. Linköpings University, Linköping, Sweden

    Elisabeth Sundin

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Lundström, A., Zhou, C. (2014). Rethinking Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprises: A Three-Dimensional Perspective. In: Lundström, A., Zhou, C., von Friedrichs, Y., Sundin, E. (eds) Social Entrepreneurship. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 29. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01396-1_4

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