Social Entrepreneurial Dawgs

next jump by t.sanchez

2009-12-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

although they are purely entrepreneurial with no apparent social return, i had to share this link to the article about next jump. they are a shopping portal for employee perks and other micro targeted marketing that has been described as patiently gestated start-up, quietly working behind the scenes, and slowly growing their organization with no need for front row status. what struck me is how innovative his idea was, simple and focused on long-term success. we learned the importance of some of these qualities in our SE projects and they cross over whether the endeavor has a social cause or not. just good to hear it reinforced. they are hiring and word is folks are turning down amazon, microsoft, and yahoo to work for them.
peace and good luck,
tracie

Ashoka chat opportunity later today...

2009-12-02T11:31:00.000-08:00

If you are free this afternoon... take part in Ashoka's Social Entrepreneurship chat on Twitter by following #SocEntChat. These chats are on different topics on the first Wednesday of every month from 4-6pm EST.

Today's topic is The Future of News - where media/information/citizenship are going.

For more details check out :: http://www.ashoka.org/story/6315

Hope to see you all there!

Liz Kazeck | @lizziallen

Time Management :: Liz Kazeck

2009-12-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

December snuck up on me. While I've been anticipating the end of the semester, multiple deadlines, and numerous projects, certain things have still managed to slip through the cracks (like this post coming a couple of days late). As a student, my deadlines are set by professors, group decisions, and the university. Because of these expressed goals, I feel compelled to get things done by a certain date. Social entrepreneurs working to start up organizations single-handedly, though, have little or no pressure from external forces to get things done.

So how do these organizations get off the ground when they are usually started by individuals who hold other jobs, have families to take care of, and have other responsibilities? Time management.

Lifeorganizers.com has identified a few key points to help social entrepreneurs manage their time (http://www.lifeorganizers.com/Time-Management/The-Organized-Entrepreneur/Solo-Entrepreneurs-Tips.html)

Here are a few highlights:

1. Write to-do lists. This will improve the likelihood you'll complete tasks by 90%!

2. Be realistic about the amount of time it will take to get something done. Then block out the appropriate amount of time in your planner.

3. Don't multitask. Focus on one thing at a time and get it done.

4. If you work at home... work there during the hours you set aside to get things done. Don't let other things distract you (laundry, dishes, etc.).

5. End your day by preparing for the next. Write down the next day's to-do list, prioritize it, and clean up your work space.

These tools and others can help social entrepreneurs organize the big and little pictures that exist in their minds for their causes.

The giving vine, mom-and-pop, and Texas--Elizabeth Linthicum

2009-11-30T06:20:00.000-08:00

I picked up the December issue of Entrepreneur Magazine in one of the waiting rooms at Athens Regional, and found several interesting stories that I wanted to share on the blog. First, Robert Spector, author of The Mom and Pop Store, lists several common threads among successful family businesses across America. He said they all have a deep desire to be independent and also changed the business in order to respond to the market. He thinks that the next generation of mom-and-pop stores will be opened by “immigrants who can’t get a job because they don’t speak English and…people who’re disillusioned and dropping out of the corporate world” (22). He predicts that small businesses will continue to thrive, especially as Americans are more conscious of supporting local restaurants, stores, and companies. In Austin, Texas (one of The Wall Street Journal’s top Youth Magnet cities), there is a very successful campaign to support local businesses and preserve the character of one of the most desirable places to live in America. The campaign is appropriately called “Keep Austin Weird.” T-shirts and bumper stickers are everywhere, and Austinites do seem to be more aware of the importance of supporting local businesses than the average citizen. On the topic of Texas, I was quite proud to see the fine state of Texas listed as one of the top ten trends of 2010, according to Entrepreneur. Texas is home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state and accounted for 59% of ALL new jobs created in the U.S. last year. I’ll get off my soapbox about the rising Lone Star state.

Though I have only lived here a year and a half, people in Athens also seem to pride themselves on the uniqueness of the town by supporting local businesses. It would be great if even more Americans celebrated the things that make their town unique by helping mom-and-pop stores thrive.

Also featured in the magazine is the wine company OneHope, which is a for-profit business that tries to sell as much wine as possible with 50% of its profits going to charity. Eight colleagues from Gallo wine company left their jobs to open OneHope, which is projected to hit $1.5M in sales for 2009 and has donated $250,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to 150 charities. Sales of the merlot go to AIDS research, the sauvignon blanc supports the environment, and the zin goes to causes that support U.S. troops. By supporting a variety of causes, OneHope appeals to many different types of consumers who might tire of this or that for the cure.

One of the founders believes that “creating change starts with big business…If we can educate businesses and get to a point where companies can get a competitive result, but a result that gives to others, we’ll be making a major step toward changing the world.” Clearly, the founders found supporting social causes attractive, and they thought consumers would too. The company is currently trying to leverage its name into a whole cause-oriented lifestyle brand by creating OneHope bottled water, and a OneHope branded flash drive that benefits Dress for Success, among other products. The business seems to do very well because it taps into people’s desire to use technology to change the world and to help others while pursuing a profit.

Elizabeth Linthicum

The S.E.V.E.N Fund - Will Richardson

2009-11-29T19:08:00.000-08:00

The following link is something I stumbled upon. I think this is a really cool way to find useful enterprise solutions from classes similar to ours.

http://www.sevenfund.org/new-models-development/index.php

The idea is that students submit innovative models for economic development (such as microfinance programs) and the winner receives $10,000 for college costs.

They also have a good example from Rwanda in an article listed on the page.

Check it out!

Innovation Is Not That Innovative-Erin Porter

2009-11-24T07:39:00.000-08:00

Several weeks back we discussed "Mastering the Art of Innovation". This is a topic which really stuck with me. Everybody who works for or with a non-profit is looking for an edge, they want to create the next big thing. The more I think about innovation, the more I am convinced that true innovations is bred out of our expertise.

A couple of weeks ago my husband told me about an organization discussed in one of his law classes. The organization is called The Legal Grind and it "seeks to provide legal assistance to middle class people with ordinary problems. The founder of the organization, Jeff Hughes, recognized that poor people have access to legal aid organizations and rich people are able to afford the best attorney their money could buy.

The Legal Grind boasts a legal resource center, self-help books, document preparation, notary service, lawyer referral service, and a coffee bar. Local lawyer are hand-picked to volunteer their time and expertise. A schedule of attorneys and their expertise are posted daily and clients can sign up for a "coffee and counsel" to receive specific advice.

In 2001 The Legal Grind received an award from the American Bar Association for assisting "people in the resolution of their legal problems in innovative ways". I found this article to be especially inspiring. So often I find myself trying to dream up ways to raise money for Global Samaritans and create a buzz around the organization and what we are doing. However, this article taught me that innovation is not that innovative. I need to take a hard look at what I am good at and find a way to put a new twist on my expertise and combine it with a way to help Global Samaritans.

It is a simple as, "justice served daily".

Erin Porter

The business plan as a marketing tool - Katy Sides

2009-11-16T10:34:00.000-08:00

I think that the concept of a business plan in a social enterprise is very interesting. So often, when we describe a social entrepreneur we talk about their innovation and ability to use resources without being concerned about their limited access to those resources. It is not often seen in the literature that a social entrepreneur focuses on strategic planning for the future. I know that I tend to think about social entrepreneurs as focused on getting their organization started and meeting their original needs. I have always imagined that if social enterprises participate in strategic planning and the creation of long-term planning it is once the organization is fully developed and thriving. I think that there is a lot for social entrepreneurs to learn about successfully using business plans from the beginning. The creation of business plans and implementation of them forces social entrepreneurs to consider possible future scenarios for the organization and the environment, as well as pay attention to some of the details of the organization. Not only does it provide an outline for the future, make predictions of how to deal with the possible directions of the organization, possible exit strategies if needed, but it also can be a tool to garner more support for the organization. It can be a way for social entrepreneurs to show that they have a big plan that is strategic and business-minded. It can be used to attract some of the necessary resources that they may not have access to, by becoming a tool to attract potential stakeholders. The idea of a social enterprise is a new business form that blends together a nonprofit business model with a traditional private sector business model. While it is exciting to have an organization that has both a social and a financial bottom line, many investors are likely to question how successful this model can be. By showing that they have invested in the time and resources to consider the future of the organization through a business model, a social entrepreneur can show that they have more than just a great idea, and can attest to their potential in the market. The social entrepreneur can show that they understand the tension between their social mission and need for financial empowerment in their business plan. They can also show that while they are trying to improve social conditions of a certain area, they are also capable of creating financial benefits. Additionally, a business model can act as a way to test the social enterprise against its possible future tests. By preparing for what lies ahead, the social enterprise makes itself stronger for today and the future.

The Good 100: Elizabeth Linthicum

2009-11-12T10:57:00.000-08:00

This is my "early November" (aka October) post:

I purchased the fall 2009 issue of Good Magazine includes opportunities to learn more about current world issues this year, avenues for discussing them, and how to contribute to solutions. The magazine lists the Good 100: "a collection of the most important, exciting, and innovative people, ideas, and projects making our world better" (Good Magazine). The magazine states that the members of the Good 100 are changing the way we live. The list reinforces the fact that the public (not necessarily the American majority) is interested in social change and supports businesses that advocate for social change.

Interesting enough, Wal-Mart is is the first entry of the Good 100 and Good states that "it has become arguably the greatest force for green in corporate America...when Wal-Mart talks, 60,000 suppliers listen." Wal-Mart accounts for more than 11% of all U.S. retail sales. As we learned in class, Wal-Mart gave itself three energy-efficiency mandates and has been making progress in all areas. Though I am not a personal fan of Wal-Mart, it is impressive that it is the largest private producer of solar power in the United States. While doing good for the environment, the store is also saving millions of dollars. Since it is so big, how energy efficient can Wal-Mart truly become? I applaud their efforts but I am still weary because changing a few lightbulbs is not nearly as impactful as looking down the entire supply chain and choosing to support ethical companies and workers who have been paid fair wages.

The magazine gives another great example of government innovation in the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Ray LaHood, the new transportation secretary, has been working on remaking America's transportation infrastructure (no big deal). He has joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency to work together, and it is an innovative approach to forcing collaboration between huge entities.

The Good 100 is so cool; I could go on and on about the different people, organizations (both for-profit and non-profit) and projects the magazine recognizes. Good magazine represents the public's interest in innovative problem solving and social entrepreneurship. Each recognized entity took on significant financial, social return, and PR risks in order to bring the innovative idea to fruition. For more information, check out the website at www.good.is

Just FYI, here is the Good 100 Hall of Fame: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Robin Chase at GoLoco, Sustainable South Bronx, Patagonia, Ashoka, Stephen Colbert, Tom's Shoes, President Barack Obama, Pixar, Jon Stewart, Jeffrey Sachs (economist), Twitter, AcumenFund, Etsy, the former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia, Enrique Penalosa, Alice Waters (chef), Creative Commons, and Architecture for Humanity. I'm sure you are familiar with many of these brands, organizations, and people.

Elizabeth Linthicum

Don't Forget to Implement the Business Plan - Audris Campbell

2009-11-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

“Say what you like about the business planning process, but the simple fact is that organizations that make plans for their future—and then follow through with them—are much better able to meet challenges than those organizations that do not make plans for their future.” -- Gregory J. Dees

Business planning is essential to establishing a social enterprise. However, the most crucial step of the business planning process is not the construction of the business plan, but the follow through, or implementation, of the business plan. In the aforementioned quote, Dees makes sure to clause his statement about business planning helping organizations meet challenges, by highlighting the fact that those organizations must also follow through with their business plans in order to be prepared to meet those challenges.

The reality is a business plan means very little, unless it is implemented. This is because the implementation of the plan actually puts action to the words on the paper. Nevertheless, it is notable that many organizations continue to focus less on implementation and more on the construction of the plan. This may be contributed to the fact that the implementation of the plan actually requires more time, energy, and management than the actual planning process.

Oftentimes, organizations simply hire a consultant who is charged with the task of constructing a business plan, but what happens once the consultant leaves and the plan is placed on a shelf somewhere in the organization’s office collecting dust? How does this effect the way administrators view the necessity of business planning? Truthfully, many people are leery of business planning today, because they have experienced being involved in an organization that spent time creating a business plan, but never implemented it.

In “Keys to Successfully Implementing a Business Plan,” Jacquel K. Clark, a writer for AllBusiness.com, listed the following five steps that can help an organization successfully implement a business plan:

Prioritize objectives – Review and prioritize objectives according to needs and wants. Needs are the "must dos", while wants are required to be more effective and efficient, but are not mandatory in the short run.
Hold staff accountable – Make sure those involved in the implementation process understand what they are to do and when it must be done.
Work the plan – Train your staff to effect change in a positive manner, encourage teamwork, and establish an environment where mistakes can be used as a learning tool.
Review progress - Periodically review the business plan to ensure progress is timely and the focus is not changed. This will also allow adequate time to react and alter the business plan when necessary.
Reward results - In order to motivate staff, make sure a good reward system is designed and executed.

Next time you finishing writing a business plan for your social enterprise, I hope you give these implementation steps a try!

--

Link to “Keys to Successfully Implementing a Business Plan”: http://www.allbusiness.com/business-planning/813472-1.html

What makes Social Entrepreneurs Successful: Katy Bernhardt

2009-11-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

While researching the web for articles on Social Entrepreneurship to search for ideas and topics for the November blog, I came across Social Edge a site a part of the Skoll Foundation for social entrepreneurs. “What Works in Social Change?” an article by Scott Sherman addresses the things that work for social entrepreneurs. The one that stood out to me most was the ‘social aikido’, mostly because of working with UJ at Blue Earth. This one part of three that makes social entrepreneurs more successful than traditional nonprofits is their ability to work with billion dollar corporations to succeed in fulfilling their mission to change a social problem. Some would argue that many traditional older nonprofit often protest larger corporations and multi-billion dollar business because of their practices, whether the problem is manufacturing conditions overseas or low wages in the working poor. But sometimes a collaborative business approach being constructive ‘to put forth a better vision to the future’ can be more successful than protests. I felt this can be demonstrated in UJ’s visionary idea of working with Athens-Clarke county and UGA to help those working poor in the Athens community have a living wage and work towards becoming potential business owners.

Sherman also asks the bold and important question ‘is social entrepreneurship sufficient in itself to change the world?’ On a small scale in Athens, GA UJ’s idea that may or may not become a reality to a certain extent I say yes. However, I think more business need to develop a plan similar to UJ’s to create a permanent change. One business can change the lives for few but this one business cannot change the lives of every single person living below poverty level in Athens, GA. This may be pessimistic, but more business in the area would need to develop plans similar to UJ in order to create a more permanent to change and affect larger numbers of people. Businesses may like the idea and become inspired but until others step up to the plate to continue to change it is going to be difficult to make this a large-scale change.

Business Plan - "Planning to Plan": Olivia C. Long

2009-11-08T18:59:00.000-08:00

In my experience, there is nothing that people in the non-profit world hate more than strategic planning. By and large we tend to be a group of "doers" driven to right wrongs and fight against suffering that we encounter every day. As such, almost any time away from our jobs, which in many instances quite literally involves matters of life and death, is seen as a waste. Accordingly, from that perspective, taking time to "plan to plan" may seem like an unconscionable waste of time; however, I would argue that nothing could be further than the truth.

I believe this feeling can be avoided by taking time to plan for the planning process. Instead of putting off the planning process, non-profits should carefully consider all elements of the process beforehand. In this way, you can determine how long the process will last, how intense the focus will be and the participants involved. Making these preparations beforehand will lead to a more efficient and productive planning process.

I also believe that a part of this "planning to plan" should encompass time to celebrate when all of the strategic objectives have been met. In this way, the organization will not only operate more effectively, the commitment of its participants will be frequently renewed when they see the path they have traveled and what lies before them.

Social Entrepreneurs and Accountability - Audris Campbell

2009-10-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

Accountability is so important in the world of social entrepreneurship. As a social entrepreneur, you are asking people to contribute towards your organization in the form of time, finances, or partnerships. These contributions are critical to the functioning of your organization, but they do not come without a price. When someone makes the decision to contribute to your organization’s success, in return they are asking that you be accountable for their time and resources by practicing good stewardship. If by any chance they learn that you have not been a good steward, rest assured that you have lost that person’s contributions along with other potential contributors.

Social entrepreneurs can exercise good stewardship habits by effectively and efficiently serving their target population and pursuing their mission. These days, many social entrepreneurs are practicing transparency as a way to illustrate their accountability to contributors. Some example of transparency are posting financial documents online, holding meetings where stakeholders are updated on financial decisions, and involving stakeholders in the actual decision making processes of the organization. In the wake of nonprofit scandals, such as Angel Food Ministries, social entrepreneurs cannot over look the need for being transparent to stakeholders. People have literally become hesitant to support organizations without a strong assurance that their contributions are going directly to the fulfillment of an organization’s mission.

Another way social entrepreneurs can demonstrate accountability to stakeholders is by creating performance measures for their organization and being sure to evaluate their organization on a consistent basis. These performance evaluations can be posted online or discussed at the organization’s annual meetings. Additionally, performance measures are great because not only does it help the organization demonstrate accountability to its stakeholders, but it also keeps stakeholders motivated within the organization. Contributors are able to keep track of the progress of the organization, which gives them opportunity to celebrate accomplishments and look forward to achieving future success.

Limitations to SE-Katy Bernhardt

2009-10-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

As I read some of the other blog posts about starting from the mission and beginning there with social entrepreneurship. I start to think about my internship, Hope Haven of Northeast Ga. Many nonprofits receiving a large amount of the funding from the federal and state governments. Hope Haven receives a significant amount of their funding from the Medicaid Waiver program.

The government places many restrictions on what agencies can bill, even just setting up money for a client is a difficult and lengthy process. The government sets up the guidelines for what is included in programs offered and agencies are allowed to provides services in the different programs. There are many limitations that agencies face by following these mandated guidelines.

So I pose the question how do SE's handle these sort of limitations to still be entrepreneurial while sill providing services and following guidelines? In this economy it is especially difficult to depend solely on fundraisers or grants to provide funds for all services. Some of the rules and restrictions placed on agencies doesn't always make much sense and can be costly for organizations to follow, which leads to poorly paid staff, and a high turnover. It is difficult to be innovative with a high turnover rate. Is it really possibly to be true entrepreneurs while receiving government funding?

I realize that not all government funding is the same and many do not have the restrictions like the Medicaid waiver program. But for organizations like Hope Haven and number of clients that are served this is nearly impossible. What are approaches that can be made to make an organization more entrepreneurial?

Finding Motivation & Avoiding Burnout :: Liz Kazeck

2009-10-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

As we find ourselves in the middle of the semester, I am having trouble finding the motivation I need to get through what's left of it. This past week, we discussed burnout in class and I cannot seem to shake that idea. With social entrepreneurial endeavors, I imagine this is a huge morale issue/risk that can be debilitating to many individuals hoping to start something new. As these entrepreneurs pour their hearts into new organizations I can imagine how demoralizing it must be to see few results from all their efforts. So what can we, and other social entrepreneurs do to get past this hurdle?

I found an article with a few tips to help us maintain our sanity as we begin to feel the effects of burnout (even if you are not experiencing any of these feelings, the tips may help you understand some things that may be important to volunteers or co-workers in your organizations). The article highlights 12 things we can to do protect ourselves from losing motivation. A few are described here.

First, take care of yourself. Our work won't be able to continue at a high level if we are working ourselves sick: sleep well, eat right, and exercise to reduce stress on the body. We can also take care of ourselves by making sure we schedule time to do nothing. As we are in the middle of working, this can be a hard thing to do. We just have to remember the importance of taking time to unwind from the stress of our endeavors.

We also need to set realistic expectations for what we hope to accomplish (day-to-day and overall). Practical steps can be taken to ensure this happens by shortening our to-do lists and prioritizing what we do actually have to get done. If we do happen to drop the ball or overlook something... we cannot beat ourselves up. We must learn not to blame ourselves or others for things that may fall through the cracks. Instead, the article tells us to learn from our mistakes and carry on. We also need to learn how to say no. As social entrepreneurs we want to give. Sometimes, we give so much that we find ourselves running on empty. This can be overcome if we establish boundaries on what we can and cannot commit to do.

Finally, we have to be honest with ourselves. We have to deal with our emotions. We're not in any of this alone. We have friends, family, and coworkers supporting us in our work as students and social entrepreneurs. Turn to them and let it all out! Let the people around you know what you are feeling. Need more than just a good venting session? Ask for help. Others will see and understand the value in what you are doing and will be willing to help, they may just not know how.If they cannot help, at least they know not to add to your stress.

Good luck staying motivated through the rest of this project and the rest of the semester. I hope these tips on burnout will help you avoid/overcome it! They have already helped me to get a better hold on what I am feeling.

And remember: the work you are doing is worth every second you are pouring into it... so enjoy it! Whether it is all easier or stressful behind-the-scenes, you are making a difference and you deserve to smile about that!

(Source: http://www.business-sanity.com/resources/articles/avoid-burnout/)

Capital Structure or Profitability - Which would an SE think is most important?

2009-10-27T17:45:00.001-07:00

My presentation a couple of weeks ago was on measuring nonprofit success, growth and financial health using ratios from 990 forms. Those ratios were divided into three categories: Liquidity, Capital Structure and Profitability. After class, I thought all are important but which would a social entrepreneur (SE) value most? Which would he/she watch more closely or use more in making decisions? Is Liquidity is easy to take out - important but not more than the other two? Just thinking of the existing nonprofit - every nonprofit needs capital to get a new venture off the ground. But then profitability can help you achieve that capital structure instead of needing a loan, investor or increasing long-term debt/liabilities. But being able to pay all your bills at one point in time (liquidity) would also help make expanding to a new venture easy. Or maybe as I am writing - the SE can't look at one ratio or ratio category in a vaccum.

Will Richardson - Innovative NPO Start Up

2009-10-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

This is somewhat in response to Ryan's post, but it's more than just minor commentary so I figured I would create a new posting.

I think innovation, the topic of the Dees chapter I am presenting in class this coming week, is the key to understanding why social enterprise works better than the traditional model of NPM in many cases. Dees defines innovation as "establishing new and better ways for accomplishing a worthwhile objective." Maybe the traditional non-profit model (defining an objective, then using multiple strategies to generate funds for that objective) is simply less effective than new models of social enterprise.

All non-profit founders are generally trying to meet some worthwhile objective, right? Some want to fight poverty, some fight homelessness, still others seek to be advocates for issues like public health - and the list goes on. But, I think the real trick is trying to figure out how to meet a real need by tapping into an existing desire to help that certain group of people. For example, the project we are working on (Trinity Effect) seeks to build a connection between Christian donors (who consistently give money to missions centered around helping impoverished countries) and micro-lending organizations that already have systems of effectively alleviating poverty in 3^rd world countries. The demonstrated desire to give is already there and so is the means for achieving the “worthwhile objective” of alleviating poverty. The entrepreneur’s job is have the foresight to marry the two.

Maybe the traditional non-profits are fighting an uphill battle because they start with a cause the have a passion for and then do their best to “sell” the cause and generate funds. Maybe an innovative way of setting out to solve the world’s needs through an entrepreneurial lens could be to first examine the public interest and figure out what cause donors want to support. What cause has interest but lacks current organizations to support it? What social concern is not getting enough attention? Could there be a throng of interested parties just waiting to give, but that have no organization to give to?

I think it’s at least an interesting way to think about the creation of NPOs.

Corporate Responsibility and Its Motives-Erin Porter

2009-10-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

As current and future social entrepreneurs, should we be concerned with the motives behind a company’s move toward social responsibility? For instance, our class went into a fairly lengthy discussion regarding the greening of Walmart. Walmart is not the first company to practice corporate responsibility, other examples include: McDonalds (Ronal McDonald House), Shell Oil Company (Flower Valley, South Africa), Starbucks (fair trade coffee), ExxonMobil (malaria prevention-insecticide treated mosquito bednets), Marathon Oil Company (malaria prevention-indoor spraying and drug therapy), and numerous others.

Oftentimes the above-mentioned organizations are accused of participating in corporate responsibility to draw attention away from questions regarding unethical practices, increase their public reputation, or to increase profits for their organization. For instance, in 2004 the reputation of Shell took a heavy hit when the public learned they had misrepresented their oil revenues. Since then, Shell has become involved in Flower Valley and numerous other projects around the world.

Should other social entrepreneurs be concerned with the motives behind corporate responsibility? Or, should they simply be satisfied with surface-value corporate responsibility? Is a greater good truly being served when selfish motives are involved? I cannot help but wonder if corporate responsibility can exist without selfish motives.

defined by business...tracie sanchez posting

2009-10-06T11:31:00.001-07:00

Terry Entrepreneurs is a program/club i just stumbled upon even though i work at Terry. they have an executive-in-residence and have incorporated SE into their typically just entrepreneurship club.
http://www.terry.uga.edu/entrepreneurship/social.html

they also have a blog and have started a wiki page to offer a definition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_entrepreneurship

both of these land pretty solidly on the definition. so with that combo as my definition, i'm sorta feeling my two worlds collide; i can work at a business school, have 20 years of time in corporate america, and study nonprofit and make a switch that combines strengths from both experiences to make an impact on a social need. hmmm.

Social Entrepreneurship :: Welcome!

2009-09-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to all of Dr. Guo's Social Entrepreneurship students. This blog has been created as an outlet for students to share thoughts on lectures, readings, and class discussions. Log in to post comments & contribute to this innovative classroom experience. Enjoy!