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A Model of Social Entrepreneurial Discovery

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Abstract

Social entrepreneurship activity continues to surge tremendously in market and economic systems around the world. Yet, social entrepreneurship theory and understanding lag far behind its practice. For instance, the nature of the entrepreneurial discovery phenomenon, a critical area of inquiry in general entrepreneurship theory, receives no attention in the specific context of social entrepreneurship. To address the gap, we conceptualize social entrepreneurial discovery based on an extension of corporate social responsibility into social entrepreneurship contexts. We develop a model that emphasizes mobilization and timing as underpinnings of social entrepreneurial discovery and offer distinct conceptual aspects and theoretic propositions instrumental to future social entrepreneurship research.

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Acknowledgment

This project benefited from the generous support of the first author's research program provided by the Wicklander Foundation and DePaul University's College of Commerce.

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  1. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.

    Patrick J. Murphy & Susan M. Coombes

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  1. Patrick J. Murphy
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  2. Susan M. Coombes
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Correspondence to Patrick J. Murphy.

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Murphy, P.J., Coombes, S.M. A Model of Social Entrepreneurial Discovery. J Bus Ethics 87, 325–336 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9921-y

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