Title: The role of the social entrepreneur as coordinator of a social network

Authors: Pilar Ester Arroyo-Lopez; Maria De Lourdes Carcamo-Solis

Addresses: Management Science and Marketing Department, School of Business Administration, Tecnologico de Monterrey Campus Toluca, Eduardo Monroy Cardenas 2000, Z.P. 50110, San Antonio Buenavista, Toluca, Estado de Mexico, Mexico ' School of Economy 'Vasco de Quiroga', Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Building T, Ground Floor, Francisco J. Mujica S/N, Z.P. 58030, Col. Felicitas del Rio, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico

Abstract: The term social entrepreneur (SE) has been applied to describe individuals or organisations strongly linked to a community and able to attract resources to create social value. The objective of this work is to further explore the social entrepreneur role as a bridge among multiple organisations and to understand how the SE evolves over time from an individual to a combined effort. To fulfill the research objective, the specific case of Bioplaneta was selected for in-depth analysis. This civil association supports socially disadvantaged Mexican communities through the creation of environmentally responsible businesses. The specification of activities performed by the integrants of Bioplaneta|s network shows the main role of the SE is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, the accumulation of resources and the management of symbiotic relationships among private and public organisations. The case concludes this social entrepreneur is able to capitalise market opportunities, thanks to its relationships with multiple institutions.

Keywords: social entrepreneurs; community participation; responsible businesses; social networks; environmental responsibility; Mexico; Latin America; network coordination; social value; multiple organisations; individual efforts; combined efforts; Bioplaneta; civil associations; sustainability; sustainable development; disadvantaged communities; social disadvantage; natural environment; integrants; knowledge exchange; resource accumulation; symbiotic relationships; relationship management; private organisations; public organisations; market opportunities; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2011.042724

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2011 Vol.14 No.2, pp.271 - 285

Published online: 21 Oct 2014 *

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