Preparing future nonprofit social enterprise leaders: a research-based instructional needs analysis

ABSTRACT

Nonprofit social enterprises (NSEs) have the potential to alleviate social issues significantly through entrepreneurial means. However, their unique mission and challenges require a distinct type of leadership compared to traditional nonprofit organizations. This leadership model must integrate social work and business management competencies. Unfortunately, research suggests that finding leaders with this combination of competencies can be challenging for NSEs. This raises the question of whether master’s degree programs in public administration (MPA) and nonprofit management (MNM) adequately equip students with the necessary competencies to lead NSEs. In response to this question, researchers surveyed MPA and MNM faculty using a 14-item online questionnaire. The results indicate that there are significant gaps in the current curriculum, with neither program placing strong emphasis on NSE leadership competencies. However, MNM programs cover some of these competencies more extensively than MPA programs. The findings suggest curricular and pedagogical improvement opportunities in public and private universities’ MPA and MNM programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Dual-mission social enterprise
• nonprofit social enterprise
• social enterprise
• social enterprise education
• social enterprise leadership competency

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robert W. Adams

Robert W. Adams is a management consultant and a recent graduate of the Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development doctoral program. His consulting encompasses the delivery of organizational development programs, including leadership training, dynamic team building, and leadership assessment and development. His research focuses on nonprofit social enterprise leadership, education, and performance.

Barbara L. Nicholson

Barbara L. Nicholson is the director of the doctoral program in leadership studies at Marshall University’s College of Education and Professional Development. Her research focuses primarily on program evaluation and policy analysis. It has been published in the Southeast Journal of Educational Administration, the Journal of Planning and Changing, the Academic Exchange Quarterly, Educational Foundations, and Adult Learning Methods.

ChiaKo Hung

ChiaKo Hung is an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania. His areas of interest are nonprofit financial management, fundraising management, social entrepreneurship, collaborative governance, and meta-analysis. His research has been published in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Public Performance & Management Review, Nonprofit Management & Leadership, VOLUNTAS, and the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory.