Relationships between founder background, issue severity, and innovation in social entrepreneurship initiatives

This study examined the characteristics of social entrepreneurship initiatives that were recognised by major foundations and media for their accomplishments, and it explored relationships between these characteristics and outcomes. Organisational theory-based hypotheses predicted that more experienced entrepreneurs and more severe problems will produce more innovative methods and generate more socially favourable outcomes. The sample consisted of the 121 social entrepreneurship initiatives. Older initiatives addressed more severe problems and had more favourable outcomes. Initiatives that were more innovative were more complex and had greater impact. Women were founders of older enterprises and produced greater impact. Problem severity and using new methods and technologies were related to more positive impact, especially for women founders. The results are discussed in terms of understanding factors that contribute to an initiative reaching the stage of world-wide recognition and the need for research to understand processes that contribute to innovative solutions and positive outcomes.