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- Social Crowdfunding: a New Model for Financing Regional Development?Publication . Bernardino, Susana; Freitas Santos, José; Cadima Ribeiro, J.Crowdfunding is an increasingly attractive source to fund social projects. However, to our best knowledge, the study of crowdfunding for social purposes has remained largely unexplored in the literature. This research envisages a detailed examination of the role of crowdfunding on the early-stage of the social projects at regional level. By comparing the characteristics of the projects available in the Portuguese Social Stock Exchange platform with others that did not use this source of financial support, we envisage to show the critical role of crowdfunding on regional development. The use of inferential techniques (Chi-square test, the Cramer’s V statistic, the Goodman and Kruskal λ and the odds ratio) demonstrates that the use of the Portuguese Social Stock Exchange platform was linked to the geographical location of the social venture as well as its geographical scope. Also, social ventures located on rural regions are more likely to use social crowdfunding platforms than social ventures located in urban areas. Further, the circumstance of having the social ventures acting at a local or regional level seems to be strongly associated with the possibility of using crowdfunding for financing social projects.
- Empreendedorismo social e desenvolvimento regionalPublication . Freitas Santos, José; Bernardino, SusanaO propósito desta comunicação é compreender a relação entre a favorabilidade do contexto externo e o empreendedorismo social em Portugal. A investigação adota uma metodologia quantitativa. Os dados primários foram recolhidos através de um inquérito por questionário, on‐line, enviado aos responsáveis que estiveram na base da constituição das Organizações Não‐Governamentais de Cooperação para o Desenvolvimento existentes em Portugal, bem como aos responsáveis pelos projetos, que à data do inquérito, se encontravam cotados na Bolsa de Valores Sociais. No teste das hipóteses de investigação foram utilizadas técnicas de análise descritiva, técnicas de redução de dados (análise fatorial por componentes principais), e o teste t‐student. Os resultados revelaram que um contexto externo favorável tem uma importância baixa na decisão de formação de uma organização social. Os resultados obtidos encontram suporte para o facto de muitas iniciativas de empreendedorismo social tenderem a localizar as suas atividades em ambientes desfavoráveis, o que confirma o papel do empreendedorismo social na atenuação das assimetrias sociais e económicas entre as regiões do território nacional.
- Antecedents of a new social venture in Portugal: the influence of education and professional backgroundPublication . Bernardino, Susana; Freitas Santos, JoséThe aim of this investigation is to explore the extent to which individuals’ education and professional background influences the launching of a new social ventures (SV) in Portugal. To attain this objective, empirical data were collected through an online survey to social entrepreneurs who have already launched a SV. The sample consists of individuals who were responsible for the creation of a Portuguese NGO or a SV available on the Portuguese Social Stock Exchange. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square goodnessof- fit test) were used, as well as principal components analysis. Our investigation reveals that a higher educational level stimulates the emergence of new SV. Individuals’ professional background (such as prior occupational status, professional satisfaction and entrepreneurial context) also has a positive impact on the decision-making. We also detect that individuals’ past entrepreneurial experiences shape (in an indirect way) how individuals accept the risks of launching a SV.
- Role of personal networks and social capital on the acquisition of resources for the social organizationsPublication . Bernardino, Susana; Freitas Santos, JoséA major problem for social entrepreneurs that want to manage a social organization on a daily basis is the problem of acquiring external resources (physical, financial, human, etc.) to fulfil its social mission. The literature has suggested that networks can play a critical role in resources acquisition. This study aims to investigate the role of the social entrepreneur's network and social capital on the acquisition of different kind of external resources to the social organization. The study uses a quantitative method, and the primary data as collected through an online survey of 313 social organizations from Portugal, the results show that the founders' network acts positively in attracting human resources, assuring state support and obtaining information from different stakeholders relevant for the management of the social organization. The founders' social capital seems to be only relevant to the attraction of financial resources to social organizations. The investigation allows enlarging the knowledge about the network approach to social entrepreneurship that is still very under-exploited.
- Perception of feasibility and social new ventures success: an exploratory studyPublication . Bernardino, Susana; Freitas Santos, JoséThis research aims to understand the role that individuals’ perception about the feasibility of a social venture plays on the decision to initiate a social project in Portugal and the extent to which individuals’ skills and abilities shape their perceptions. To attain this goal, a survey was undertaken among a sample of individuals responsible for the creation of Portuguese social ventures. The results showed that the perception of the feasibility of the social venture is closely related to individuals’ required skills/abilities and the desirability of the initiative. Specifically, it seems critical that the social value produced by the project will be fairly appreciated by the society and the target audience (donors, beneficiaries). For older people and individuals with no previous entrepreneurial and managerial experience, institutional support that increases external environment favorability is also considered important.
- Social entrepreneur and gender: what’s personality got to do with it?Publication . Bernardino, Susana; Freitas Santos, José; Cadima Ribeiro, J.Purpose – Research on economic entrepreneurship identifies a gender gap that is favorable to men. In the social entrepreneurship arena, the existing evidence is slightly fuzzy, as this gender gap is less preeminent. This paper aims to identify how gender differences in social entrepreneurial ventures creation are explained by different personality traits, by analyzing the extent to which female and male social entrepreneurs exhibit the same personality traits and whether potential differences are able to explain the differences in predisposition for the creation of new social entrepreneurial ventures. Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature on gender differences and personality traits in social entrepreneurship details the main theoretical developments and builds the hypotheses. Based on the Big Five model, the investigation uses a hypothesis testing quantitative approach. Primary data were collected through a questionnaire that was e-mailed and applied to the social entrepreneurs engaged in the creation of social ventures in Portugal. Findings – The data gathered suggest that both female and male social entrepreneurs have personalities characterized by high levels of openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion and emotional stability. Based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA) between the two groups and logistic regression, the investigation reveals that women and men who launch a new social venture only differ in one personality dimension – agreeableness – wherein women scored more highly. No significant differences are found in the other personality traits. Research limitations/implications – The research assumes that most aspects of human personality structure are represented in the Big Five model. Practical implications – The knowledge about whether gender differences are explained by different personality traits is critical to public entities that might design appropriate public policies to stimulate social entrepreneurship. Also, social entrepreneurs’ capacity building programs should be delineated in accordance with a deeper understanding about gender and personality traits differences. Social implications – The knowledge of the factors that affects the creation of new social ventures has an important potential contribution on social value creation and the promotion of gender equality. Originality/value – This paper links two important topics – gender and entrepreneurs’ personality traits – scarcely explored in the social entrepreneurship literature. Thus, the paper adds new empirical evidence to support (or not) the belief that personality and gender matter in the decision to launch a new social venture.
- Contributo do empreendedorismo social para o desenvolvimento de Cabo Verde: um estudo exploratórioPublication . Bernardino, Susana; Freitas Santos, José; Soares, MaryzetteO empreendedorismo social tem sido reconhecido como um instrumento útil na promoção do desenvolvimento económico sustentável. O objectivo do estudo é o de explorar em que medida as Organizações Não Governamentais para o Desenvolvimento Portuguesas (ONGDP) contribuem para o desenvolvimento de Cabo Verde (CV). Deste modo, procurou-se identificar e avaliar os projetos desenvolvidas pelas ONGDP em CV, compreender que tipo de dificuldades enfrentam e as motivações que envolvem. Para o efeito fez-se uso de uma metodologia qualitativa, através da recolha e análise de dados secundários (desk research) e de entrevistas aos responsáveis de seis ONGDP que atuam em CV. O estudo permitiu concluir que as ONGDP não se focam numa única área de atuação, mas em várias, como a saúde, desenvolvimento rural, educação e formação profissional, entre outras.Verificou-se que as ONGP agem em parceria com organizações locais, que se afiguram cruciais por viabilizarem o conhecimento da realidade concreta. CV tem sido beneficiado com os projetos em razão de partilhar uma língua comum. Para a obtenção de recursos, a maioria das ONGDP recorrem a contribuições em espécie, bem como a voluntariado. A geração de valor social foi conseguida essencialmente através de atividades geradoras de valor económico, entendidas como as mais eficazes para assegurar uma resposta social sustentada. As principais dificuldades encontradas surgem das caraterísticas específicas do território e da sua orografia que tem implicações na acessibilidade, transportes e meios de comunicação.
- Local development through social and territorial innovation: an exploratory case studyPublication . Bernardino, Susana; Freitas Santos, JoséThis investigation aims to examine innovation in a selected successful Portuguese social venture (The Cooperative Terra Chã) and to analyse the extent to which innovative social ventures are able to contribute to local development. Specifically, the paper highlights the activities developed by the social organization in response to the needs of particular (micro) segments of society and illustrates which key factors triggered the success of the examined social initiative. A case study methodology is used to describe the distinctive characteristics and strategies pursued by the managers of the social venture and to establish the links between the opportunities for social innovation and the territory. The data collected for the study were triangulated from desk research and from in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with privileged actors. The results show that social innovation is a viable strategy to revitalize the region’s socio-economic tissue, through the creation of new economic activities and consequently local employment that are based on the village’s traditional activities. This strategy seeks to achieve sustainable economic growth and well-being for the people of the region. However, to be successful, the strategy demands a deep knowledge of existing social problems as well as the availability of endogenous local resources and capabilities for use by social entrepreneurs. In this context, social innovation should be a participatory process, in which different entities and the beneficiaries of social programs were active players.
- Building smarter cities through social entrepreneurshipPublication . Bernardino, Susana; Freitas Santos, JoséThe objective of the present study is to examine the extent to which social ventures are able to increase the “smartness” of cities. To achieve this goal, we adopt a qualitative approach using a case study method to obtain valuable insights about different characteristics and strategies of Cais (a non-profit association dedicated to helping disadvantaged people in urban areas). Through our analysis of Cais’s activities, we assess whether its social interventions match the dimensions proposed by Giffinger et al. (2007) to rank smart cities’ performance; specifically, it has smart: economy, people, governance, mobility, environment, and living. The research shows that the action pursued comprises elements from all the above-mentioned dimensions. Further, the analysis reveals that Cais reinforces the smartness of the city in which it acts (in terms of attributes such as living, economy, people, and environment).