Research

SEKN researches high priority areas in the Social Enterprise field. Members collectively select a single research topic, design a set of common research questions, and then engage in field-based research. The research in each country examines in depth four or more situations of social enterprise practice in the chosen topic area. These case analyses result in a paper for each country drawing the experiences together and reaching conclusions related to the specified research questions. In turn, these country-specific analytical cases provide the basis for cross-country comparative analyses to identify commonalties and differences on the phenomenon being studied.

Additionally, the analytical cases are also used to create teaching cases for Social Enterprise courses being developed by each school. Each institution’s cases will be available for use in the other schools, thereby accelerating the development of sufficient materials to mount courses. The cases will also be accessible to institutions outside of the Social Enterprise Knowledge Network through the case distribution publishing system of the Harvard Business School.

First Cycle (2001-2003)

The research topic for the 2001-2003 research cycle was on collaborations between businesses and NGOs. As one of the principal theoretical and empirical reference points, this research used the findings and constructs from research on such cross-sector alliances in the USA (James E. Austin, The Collaboration Challenge: How Nonprofits and Businesses Succeed Through Strategic Alliances, Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2000.

In this cycle, SEKN produced a highly regarded book, “Social Partnering in Latin America”, and twenty-four pedagogical cases with teaching notes.

Second Cycle (2003-2005)

The research topic for the 2003-2005 cycle was on successful Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and businesses that sought to serve their communities in innovative and effective ways. We examined the management practices employed by these organizations to provide effective solutions to community needs.

In this cycle, SEKN produced the book “Effective Management of Social Enterprise” , and forty pedagogical cases with teaching notes.

Third Cycle (2005-2008)

The research will examine how low-income groups can be effectively engaged in market-based activities that will enhance their lives as consumers, producers, suppliers, and partners in the economic value chain. The goal is to provide sustainability without the need to rely solely on philanthropy.

In terms of outputs, Cycle II will produce at least one book and 40 cases with teaching notes. Articles about a selection of these cases will be published by ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America in its forthcoming issue (Winter 2006).