Social entrepreneurship and sense-making: evidence from the Global Social Benefit Institute

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to provide an empirical investigation of social enterprises in the context of experiential learning. Specifically, the study aims to investigate the interplay between faith-based principles and the processes of opportunity recognition and exploitation through an in-depth, qualitative study of social enterprises offered through the Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI).

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, student experiences with social entrepreneurship are examined and their subsequent reflections are analyzed. Applying the Gioia methodology to the sample of student reflection data, this study enriches the growing literature on sense-making by looking closely at how student entrepreneurs engage their own faith-based education in helping their teams, beneficiaries and stakeholders “make sense” of a social change opportunity.

Findings

This study finds evidence of variability in the elaboration of the faith-based principles when sampling on the social needs of affection, behavioral confirmation and status.

Originality/value

The results suggest a role for faith-based sense-making when confronting the realities of social change opportunities.

Citation

Sabbaghi, O. and Cavanagh, S.J., G.F. (2018), "Social entrepreneurship and sense-making: evidence from the Global Social Benefit Institute", Social Enterprise Journal, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 289-311. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-01-2018-0009