Title: The role of social media in the collaboration, interaction, co-creation and co-delivery of a social venture in an uncertain conflict environment

Authors: Cherry Cheung; Caleb Kwong; Charan Bhattarai

Addresses: Business School, London South Bank University, 107 Borough Road, London, UK ' University of Essex, Room GB 3.31, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, UK ' Loughborough University, 3 Lesney Avenue, The Broadcast Centre, Here East Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, UK

Abstract: This research case study examines the creation and development of a bottom-up social entrepreneurial venture (SEV) immediately after the outbreak of a civil war in an Arab country by a group of young patriots in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings in the 2010s. Drawing on Linders' (2012) model of social action lifecycle, our study examines the co-creation of the SEV, and the subsequent processes of co-production and co-delivery of the social actions. We found the role of social media to be critical. In our case study, social media was not intended for mass-mobilisation, but for selected mobilisation amongst those within the network. This is due to the insecure environment and the fear of infiltration from opposing parties. We also examine how new actors were, over time, being carefully screened and selected, and potential harmful players being excluded, which in turn contributed to the evolving nature of the SEV.

Keywords: interaction; collaboration; uncertainty; war and conflict; social entrepreneurship; youth.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2019.102831

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2019 Vol.23 No.6, pp.640 - 666

Accepted: 24 Jul 2018
Published online: 08 Oct 2019 *

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