Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2007
Abstract
Survey data from 228 entrepreneurial social sector organizations was used to examine the factors that facilitate growth and organizational performance in the social sector. The study was designed to address the following core question: How are some entrepreneurial social sector organizations better able to grow and perform than others despite environmental challenges such as resource scarcity? Hypotheses were developed using resource-based theory, resource dependence theory, network theories, and goal theory. Structural equation modeling was used to test these hypotheses. The study adds to our understanding of the organization-level drivers of growth and organizational performance in the social sector. It introduces the construct of resourcing innovation which appears to be strongly relevant to the resource-scarce environment that characterizes the social sector. The findings are consistent with resource-based theory and highlight the importance of resources, capabilities and managerial services to achieving high levels of growth and organizational performance in the social sector. In addressing the core research question, the findings suggests that factors that enable some entrepreneurial social sector organizations to outgrow and outperform others include more aggressive goals, more innovative approaches to financial resourcing, and strong leadership that helps the organizations garner resources and successfully build important organization-level capabilities.
Keywords
social entrepreneurship
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Sherman, David A., "Entrepreneurial Social Sector Organizations: Factors that Facilitate Growth and Performance" (2007). Student Scholarship. 199.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/199