A few decades ago, most companies were focused on economic growth, leaving development aside. This resulted in increased profits at the expense of workers, suppliers, and others involved in the process. In addition to the indiscriminate use of natural resources. Currently, there are still corporations with this focus, however, there are also enterprises that have different objectives, such as social entrepreneurship.
Social entrepreneurship is understood as one that has objectives that go beyond economic profit. The protagonists of this type of entrepreneurship are people or institutions that develop shared initiatives and networks capable of generating social value. In other words, social entrepreneurship is the use of business techniques to achieve social goals.
There are multiple benefits that social entrepreneurship provides to both entrepreneurs and those who receive help from these projects. Among them is gradually transforming the lives of individuals through innovative solutions, improving their living conditions. And although it is often believed that this type of venture has no economic value, it is not. Although earnings are not the main objective, they exist as a consequence of social value. The term should not be confused with non-profit organizations.
A characteristic that identifies social entrepreneurship is the triple bottom line, a term used to identify the impact that business activity has in three areas: social, economic and environmental. In addition to the above, this venture is characterized by having simple, understandable, and ethical ideas for the user, so that as many people as possible can take advantage of the ideas and put them into practice. Innovation and commitment are also an important part of the characteristics of this undertaking.
An example of social entrepreneurship are companies B or Benefit Corporation, they are companies that combine profit with social or environmental responsibility, providing solutions to problems related to these areas. Some of the purposes of these corporations are:
- Create a positive impact on society and the environment Change statutes to include non-financial interests Constantly certify to improve management standards and transparency
And among its benefits are:
- To be leading companies that inspire others to join the objectives To have transparency To be in a process of continuous improvement through the B certification To have different characteristics that achieve their market positioning To attract talents, mainly Millennials
It is important to know that it is not necessary to be a company B to create social entrepreneurship, but it is an option.
The current social and environmental conditions are not the most favorable, there are various problems such as: extreme poverty, social marginalization, discrimination, global warming, pollution, among others. Although identifying problems is essential to provide solutions, the next step is to create an idea and take it to action, otherwise the problems will still be there. And although it seems that the problem overwhelms us and we have little interference in the solution, it is not. If we are part of the problem, we can be part of the solution. And what better way than through companies, these organizations that have an enormous reach both geographically and socially and economically.
By way of recapitulation, it can be said that B companies are a form of social entrepreneurship, which is very necessary under current conditions because they have a social and / or environmental impact without losing their lucrative character. In addition to generating multiple benefits to creators.
Bibliography
- Mayor, JC (sf). Economipedia. Obtained from Social Entrepreneurship: https://economipedia.com/definiciones/emprendimiento-social.html Portal of social responsibility, social entrepreneurship and the economy of the common good. (sf). Obtained from http://www.economiasostenible.org/confecto-de-emprendimiento-social/ Sistema B. (sf). Obtained from https://sistemab.org/como-me-sumo/Solano, SE (December 2017). Social entrepreneurship. Obtained from
