Social entrepreneurship innovation: A study from Mexico

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this research project is to explore the personal and organizational factors that lead to innovation in social entrepreneurs. The study improves the understanding of this type of entrepreneurs in Mexico.

Research Design & Methods: The study includes 81 social entrepreneurs from different regions of Mexico. A questionnaire was carried out taking into account five factors: creativity, autonomy, tasks and roles of the entrepreneur and innovation of the process and the product or service. The approach used was quantitative through structural equations to establish a relationship between the variables. The method used was through partial least squares.

Findings: Through the structural equations, the relationship between the variables studied is shown. The relationship between the personal and organizational variables of the social entrepreneur on product or service innovation is verified. The social entrepreneur innovates to reach the goals that are proposed.

Implications & Recommendations: It is necessary to sensitize the different governmental and non-governmental sectors that promote social entrepreneurship in Mexico. Entrepreneur training strategies can help them achieve a sustainable business and, in this way, contribute to promoting social justice.

Contribution & Value Added: This work highlights the personal and organizational factors of the social entrepreneur in Mexico that had not been previously studied. These days, due to a severe crisis caused by the global pandemic, it will take a greater number of social entrepreneurs to be able to overcome social lags.

Keywords

social entrepreneurship; creativity; autonomy; innovation; partial least square; México