No Cover Image

Journal article 841 views

Social enterprises operating in the South Wales valleys: a Delphi study of persistent tensions

Anthony Samuel, Gareth White, Paul Jones Orcid Logo, Rebecca Fisher

Social Enterprise Journal, Volume: 14, Issue: 1, Pages: 22 - 38

Swansea University Author: Paul Jones Orcid Logo

Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.

DOI (Published version): 10.1108/SEJ-10-2017-0052

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the factors that influence and collectively conspire to inhibit social enterprises’ abilities to flourish in geographies of economic and social deprivation. Drawing upon the extant literature, it deploys a Delphi study to rank the relative importance of these factor...

Full description

Published in: Social Enterprise Journal
Published: Emerald Publishing Ltd 2018
Online Access: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/SEJ-10-2017-0052
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa43243
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Abstract: PurposeThis paper aims to examine the factors that influence and collectively conspire to inhibit social enterprises’ abilities to flourish in geographies of economic and social deprivation. Drawing upon the extant literature, it deploys a Delphi study to rank the relative importance of these factors.Design/methodology/approachA two-round Delphi study has been used to assess the relative importance of the issues that beset social enterprises. The research panel consisted of owner-managers of nine social enterprises from South Wales (UK).FindingsThe findings indicate that the prime challenge faced by social enterprise owner-managers is balancing their dual mission. The difficulties faced in delivering social value while remaining financially viable is one that appears to impinge upon the other strategic and operational challenges they face.Research limitations/implicationsThe generalizability of this study that utilizes expert insight is dependent upon the nature of the panel. In this instance, social enterprise owner-managers studied operated within a socially deprived region of the UK. The relative influence of the tensions that affect social enterprises in less impoverished areas of the UK or other geographies may well differ.Originality/valueDrawing upon the extant literature that examines the tensions that surround social enterprises, the prevailing factors are considered and ranked of significance. The resulting ranking provides a crystallised vantage point for policy and support. This could be used to better inform the allocation of resources to facilitate a favourable eco system capable of supporting social enterprises who operate in areas troubled by economic and social deprivation.
Keywords: Social enterprise, Tensions, Delphi study, South Wales, Hybridity
College: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Issue: 1
Start Page: 22
End Page: 38