Social Entrepreneurship: Role of Networks in Capturing Opportunities.

Abstract

Social entrepreneurship, an exercise that amalgamates non-profit operations and business values in quest of social impact, has the ability to empower lots of individuals around the world in social problem-solving. This article investigates how managerial ties assist social entrepreneurs in discovering and capturing opportunities for their course. We also look at the moderating effect of centrality on the relationship between the social entrepreneur, managerial ties and opportunity. Drawing a sample from 300 social entrepreneurs, we recorded that, business ties have a more positive effect on opportunity and both degree and betweenness centrality positively moderates this relationship. However, social entrepreneurs are encouraged to establish ties with both government and business because they have different services to offer. But that notwithstanding, they are encouraged to have more business ties to discover and capture opportunities.

Keywords: Social Entrepreneurship, government ties, business ties, opportunity capture.

DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/53-06

Publication date:March 31^st 2019