The voice of the constituent: participatory development and opportunity identification in social entrepreneurship

Abstract

In seeking to create civic, social and economic value, a social entrepreneur encounters challenges in opportunity identification and evaluation not faced by the profit-seeking entrepreneur. Assimilating the concepts of civic engagement and participatory development (well established in the fields of social work, public health, public policy and public administration) may be a useful tool for prospective social entrepreneurs as they seek to develop effective organisations that can achieve multiple goals. Integrating this process into the growing body of literature on the development of viable social enterprises may also help to advance the legitimacy and distinctiveness of social entrepreneurship.