Dual‐Mission Management in Social Entrepreneurship: Qualitative Evidence from Social Firms in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Social enterprises are at risk of undermining the authenticity of their social purpose in the attempt to manage and balance multiple stakeholders' expectations. This study explores dynamics of dual‐mission management in relation to a group of U.K. social enterprises via an inductive qualitative multicases method. Results suggest that approaches to dual‐mission management vary along a continuum, ranging from the dimension of high compartmentalization to the dimension of high integration. It emerged that blended strategic planning, tailored production processes, and blended governance and management structures are critical key drivers of integration approaches to dual‐mission management.

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Notes on contributors

Laura A. Costanzo

Laura A. Costanzo is lecturer in Strategic Management at Surrey Business School, University of Surrey.

Clodia Vurro

Clodia Vurro is lecturer of Management at Institute of Strategy, Department of Management & Technology, Università Commerciale “L. Bocconi.”

Doug Foster

Doug Foster is lecturer in Management at Surrey Business School, University of Surrey.

Flavio Servato

Flavio Servato is lecturer in Management at Department of Law, University of Turin.

Francesco Perrini

Francesco Perrini is full professor of Strategic Management at Institute of Strategy, Department of Management & Technology, Università Commerciale “L. Bocconi.”