Competencies for social entrepreneurs in emerging economies: evidence from India

Abstract

Individual (entrepreneurial) competencies are ubiquitously acknowledged and directly linked with the establishment and overall success of an enterprise. However, very few studies have been conducted in social entrepreneurial competencies domains with a specific context to emerging economies. This study aims to explore and examine the competencies of social entrepreneurs functioning in emerging economies specifically in India. The study holds its foundation on constructivist research paradigm and relativist ontology; adopt an emic approach to epistemology and multiple-case study (in-depth interview) methodology. Primary data was collected through personal interviews and analysed through Atlas.ti 8 Software. The results revealed that the social entrepreneurs acquire specific competencies in response to the hostile and belligerent social, political, institutional, and cultural conditions prevalent in emerging economies/India. Minor quantitative analysis develops our understanding of competencies with relation to age, education, experience and marital status of the social entrepreneurs.