Investigating the hybridity and scaling strategies of for-profit social enterprises

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K01873
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
• Principal Investigator: ALCANTARA L.L. 立命館アジア太平洋大学, 国際経営学部, 教授 (10584021)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 三橋 平 早稲田大学, 商学学術院, 教授 (90332551)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: hybridity / social enterprises / scaling strategy

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

One critical issue that the project focuses on is how stakeholders’ perception of hybrid organizations, particularly certified benefit corporations, which have a mixture of the profit-seeking elements of commercial enterprises and purpose-driven elements of non-profit organizations to address societal and environment issues, influence their strategies and outcomes. Based on the descriptive analysis and literature review of certified benefit corporations, an experimental research on how consumers perceive certified benefit corporations compared to social enterprises without a B corp certification and commercial enterprises was developed in FY2021. Experimental surveys were distributed, and preliminary analyses of data collected were also implemented in FY2021.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

The tasks in FY2021 were to present the descriptive analysis and literature review of B corps and to conduct field interviews that will be used for developing the study’s conceptual framework. However, due to safety issues and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the PI was not able to implement these tasks. The PI’s submission to the Nordic Academy of Management was accepted; however, this conference was cancelled. To meet the research objectives and continue to generate research outputs, the PI employed an experimental research design that does not require field interviews.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

In FY2022, the analyses of data collected will be continued and a complete draft of the paper on consumers’ perception of certified B corps will be completed by March 2023. This draft will be submitted for conference presentations, including the European International Business Academy and Asia Pacific Conference, to obtain feedback for improving the paper.

Causes of Carryover

Due to safety concerns and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the PI was not able to conduct field interviews and participate in conferences. The remaining amounts will be used to conduct research meetings, interviews with social entrepreneurs and experts of benefit corporations, and participate in conferences, including the European International Business Academy and Asia Pacific Conference.