A project in understanding the phenomenon of social venturing: ethos, management and organisational forms of social ventures (RDF17/BAM/BHOWMICK)

With governments falling short in social value creation and communities rupturing in modern day living, social ventures by action-oriented and motivated individuals are drawing much attention. This phenomenon has been researched in the field of entrepreneurship where social venturing activity and their sponsors are likened to commercial venturing and commercial entrepreneurs. However, the research is criticised for ‘reflexive isomorphism’ that assumes commercial entrepreneurship principles to explicate social venturing as ‘social entrepreneurship’, and revolve around sponsor’s motivation for social venturing, assessment of performance of social ventures and the place venture financing vis-à-vis its success outcomes. This has far reaching implications in understanding the phenomenon of social venturing as it attempts to replace charity as the route to uplift the under-privileged with the approach that empowerment not kindness lies at the root of a lasting solution to inequity.

With the moving of perspective from charity to empowerment as the basis for societal change there has also been a need for regulation of social ventures. New statutes have been adopted for simultaneous regulation and enablement of these ventures with the primary aim being to enable ventures to become financially self-sufficient. This has brought disruptive change in the third sector. Along with the ability of social ventures to raise funds in the new regulatory regime, the question of performance assessment of their activities have also come into sharp focus for efficient resource allocation. However, performance assessment is hampered by social ventures not operating in a conventional market exchange setting as the receiver of benefit often does not pay for the benefit received. There is also no common currency to evaluate equivalence in value imparted in a myriad activities from inner city poverty reduction to free eyecare to reviving orphan drugs for orphaned diseases thus making the performance of social ventures difficult to assess.

The research questions in this project could be explored through two approaches. On the one hand, it would seek to explore the nature of the phenomenon of social venturing vis-à-vis its purpose and its sustenance, what would define its success and its failure, its philosophical tension of growth against its hope to become redundant. On the other hand, and related closely to such understanding, it would seek to empirically explore social ventures aiming to build an assessment criteria map for the phenomenon.
There are practical research questions important to explore: of orgainsational forms and legal structures of social ventures now instituted such as the CIC in the UK, L3C in the US, and other forms elsewhere, including country comparisons and their success so far in furthering the impact of social venturing.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the stakeholder concepts in management and empirical research methods. They would either have done a dissertation at bachelors or masters level or be willing to undertake preparatory research methods study. An ability to conduct primary data gathering and a willingness to learn new techniques will be critical to success of the programme.

Eligibility and How to Apply
Please note eligibility requirement:
• Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required (evidence required by 1 August 2017).

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/

Please ensure you quote the advert reference above on your application form.
Deadline for applications: 20 January 2017
Start Date: 2 October 2017

Northumbria University is an equal opportunities provider and in welcoming applications for studentships from all sectors of the community we strongly encourage applications from women and under-represented groups.