Does social performance contribute to economic performance of social enterprises? The role of social enterprise reputation building. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research

Journal article

Kwong, C., Bhattarai, C.R., Bhandari, M.P. and Cheung, C. (2023). Does social performance contribute to economic performance of social enterprises? The role of social enterprise reputation building. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-12-2022-1106
AuthorsKwong, C., Bhattarai, C.R., Bhandari, M.P. and Cheung, C.
Abstract

Purpose
Literature on the relationship between social performance and economic performance of social enterprises has long been inconclusive. This paper aims to investigate whether and, if so, how social performance contributes to economic performance of social enterprises. Specifically, drawing from the resource-based view and signalling theory, the study examines how the development of reputation, which enables social enterprises to signal the enterprises' stakeholders' commitment towards social causes, mediates the relationship between the two.

Design/methodology/approach
Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected from a sample of 164 social enterprises in the UK and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings
The results illustrate that whilst the direct relationship between social and economic performance is inconclusive, social performance contributes indirectly to improve economic performance through improving social enterprise reputation.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first of this kind in the context of social enterprises which sheds light on the long-standing conflicting literature on the relationship between the dual objectives (i.e. social and economic) by providing reputation as the mediating variable.

Year2023
JournalInternational Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research
PublisherEmerald
ISSN1355-2554
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-12-2022-1106
Web address (URL)https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJEBR-12-2022-1106/full/html?casa_token=YYle8FYItqkAAAAA:-KPXnLvlRpBVzyKDuicIuAXx-1w84f3Ihq1ltHau67n8I1rrbT1Jt6cetRK76XmjzncVMthtkOESup9HEKfTIAh17mnW4wp5zxMS2_fbdSDg9WK204o
Publication dates
Print15 Aug 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted15 Jul 2023
Deposited12 Oct 2023
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Permalink -

https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/9534q

Download files

Accepted author manuscript
Kwong et al IJEBR final.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 80
    total views
  • 126
    total downloads
  • 4
    views this month
  • 5
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

How entrepreneurial are social entrepreneurship education providers? The role of universities’ entrepreneurial ecosystems in the provision of elective social entrepreneurship courses to business students
Kwong, C., Cheung, C., Bhattarai, C. and Fieldhouse, S (2022). How entrepreneurial are social entrepreneurship education providers? The role of universities’ entrepreneurial ecosystems in the provision of elective social entrepreneurship courses to business students. Studies in Higher Education . https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2022.2055319
The Role of Entrepreneurship and Spirituality in the Provision of Elective Social Enterprise Courses in Business Schools
Cheung, C.W. M., Fieldhouse, S. and Kwong, C.C. Y. (2022). The Role of Entrepreneurship and Spirituality in the Provision of Elective Social Enterprise Courses in Business Schools. World Scientific Encyclopedia of Business Sustainability, Ethics and Entrepreneurship. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811248887_0012
The co-creation of social ventures through bricolage, for the displaced, by the displaced
Cheung, C, Caleb, K, Manzoor, H, Rashid, MU, Bhattarai, C and Kim, Y (2019). The co-creation of social ventures through bricolage, for the displaced, by the displaced. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research. 25 (5). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-03-2018-0140
An Exploratory Quantitative Study into the Relationship between Catholic Affiliation and the Development of Social Entrepreneurship and Non-profit Management Courses in the USA
Cheung, C, Kwong, C and Fieldhouse, S (2018). An Exploratory Quantitative Study into the Relationship between Catholic Affiliation and the Development of Social Entrepreneurship and Non-profit Management Courses in the USA. International Studies in Catholic Education. 10 (2), pp. 203-219. https://doi.org/10.1080/19422539.2018.1492263
The role of social media in the collaboration, interaction, co-creation and co-delivery of a social venture in an uncertain conflict environment
Cheung, CM, Kwong, C and Bhattarai, C (2018). The role of social media in the collaboration, interaction, co-creation and co-delivery of a social venture in an uncertain conflict environment. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management. 23 (6). https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEIM.2019.102831
Entrepreneurship through Bricolage: A Study of Displaced Entrepreneurs at Times of War and Conflict
Kwong, C, Cheung, C, Manzoor, H and Ur Rashid, M (2018). Entrepreneurship through Bricolage: A Study of Displaced Entrepreneurs at Times of War and Conflict. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2018.1541592
Path-and Place-dependence of entrepreneurial ventures at times of war and conflict
Cheung, C and Kwong, C (2017). Path-and Place-dependence of entrepreneurial ventures at times of war and conflict. International Small Business Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242617691802
Bricolage, Collaboration and Mission Drift in Social Enterprises
Cheung, C, Kwong, C and Tasavori, M (2017). Bricolage, Collaboration and Mission Drift in Social Enterprises. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2017.1328904
Early Global Trotters and their Entrepreneurial Employment Practices. A Case Study of the Colonial Hong Kong Government, 1845–1850.
Cai, QQ, Cheung, C and Kwong, C (2016). Early Global Trotters and their Entrepreneurial Employment Practices. A Case Study of the Colonial Hong Kong Government, 1845–1850. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies. 8 (3), pp. 378-384. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-07-2016-0022
Constructing a historical case for the teaching of business and management subjects – public and private multinational enterprises in colonial Hong Kong
Cheung, C (2016). Constructing a historical case for the teaching of business and management subjects – public and private multinational enterprises in colonial Hong Kong. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies. 8 (3), pp. 355-377. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeee-03-2015-0025
Exploitative Learning and Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition of a Family Business in Hong Kong during and after the Second World War
Cheung, C (2016). Exploitative Learning and Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition of a Family Business in Hong Kong during and after the Second World War. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies. 8 (3), pp. 321-334. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-06-2015-0035
Understanding Chinese entrepreneurship from a historical perspective: What can we Learn from our Entrepreneurship heritage and How? [Editorial]
Cheung, C, Zheng, V, Kwong, C and Wong, SL (2016). Understanding Chinese entrepreneurship from a historical perspective: What can we Learn from our Entrepreneurship heritage and How? [Editorial]. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies. 8 (3), pp. 298-303. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-07-2016-0021
Starting and growing a venture at a time of economic crisis - practical legal and policy considerations
Cheung, C. (2014). Starting and growing a venture at a time of economic crisis - practical legal and policy considerations. Journal of General Management. 40 (1), pp. 97-105. https://doi.org/10.1177/030630701404000106