Business as unusual: a business model for social innovation

Marta Gasparin*, William Green, Simon Lilley, Martin Quinn, Mike Saren, Christophe Schinckus

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Business model (BM) literature has developed considerably; however, most research takes place in large for-profit organisations in western settings, rather than small–medium enterprises with social goals. This is surprising given the drive for social innovation (SI) and alternative modes of organizing. Models for managing innovation are typically agnostic about sources of social, ecological and cultural values; yet our in-depth qualitative research demonstrates that, for SMEs practicing SI in Vietnam, these values are as inherent as economic value. As a result, a new social BM emerged and was evaluated. This paper: (i) defines a Business model for SI for sustaining the long-term growth of SI; (ii) provides a Strategic framework for SI for SMEs, to ensure that the strategy of SMEs takes into consideration the positive impact SIs can have on society; and (iii) defines mechanisms to create and capture economic, social, cultural and ecological values.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)698-709
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Business Research
Volume125
Early online date6 Feb 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Dr Martin Quinn is Associate Professor in Regional Development and Public Policy. His research interests focus on regional development and public policy, especially in the context of devolution to the regional and local tiers in England. He is particularly interested in the ways in which second tier cities (broadly defined) experience the devolution process and how the public and private sectors come together to form governance networks. He has developed work examining devolution and governance through the lens of Social Contract Theory and this work has been funded in part by a grant from the Regional Studies Association.

ESRC New Investigator ES/S006060/1; British Council, Vietnam; British Council, UK.We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their excellent comments, and the editor of the special issue for the thoughtful suggestions for the paper. We would like to thank Thoa Bao Nguyen, Director of VIRI and Claire Driscoll, Director of Work Room Four, for the insightful comments during the Crafting Futures Project funded by the British Council, Vietnam and British Council, UK and for their comments in the development of the business models. The Data were collected during the Crafting Futures Project and ESRC grant ES/S006060/1. “Slow Design Driven Innovation: Developing A Business Model For Glocalised Enterprises”. The graphic abstract is designed by Claire Driscoll.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Inc.

Keywords

  • Business model for social innovation
  • SMEs
  • Social innovation
  • Strategic framework for social innovation
  • Transitional economy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Marketing

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