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How do social responsibility and social entrepreneurship generate value creation in pandemics?

Rui Silva (CETRAD, Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro Vila Real Portugal)
Margarida Rodrigues (CEFAGE-UBI Research Center, Universidade da Beira Interior Covilha Portugal)
Mário Franco (Management and Economics, CEFAGE-UBI Research Center, Universidade da Beira Interior Faculdade de Ciencias Sociais e Humanas Covilha Portugal)
Cidália Oliveira (Universidade do Minho Guimarães Portugal)
Nuno Sousa (CETRAD, Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro Vila Real Portugal)

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy

ISSN: 1750-6204

Article publication date: 29 September 2021

Issue publication date: 8 March 2023

433

Abstract

Purpose

Using self-determination theory and individual social responsibility’s (ISRs) association with pure social entrepreneurship, this study aims to answer the following question: How and why have the different actors responded to the crisis caused by the pandemic?

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research (multiple case studies) was adopted, resorting to interviewees with seven economic and non-economic actors in the Portugal context.

Findings

The results obtained, using MAXQDA software, show that those carrying out actions of social responsibility have a high degree of self-determination and intrinsic motivation, and are true social entrepreneurs, which lets them improve the well-being of those around them. In addition, these individuals feel good about themselves by performing these actions, as they measure their performance by the social impact of their actions on society in general.

Practical implications

This study suggest there is a high awareness amongst people to exercise that responsibility in a voluntary way, through humanitarian initiatives and campaigns brought about especially by an unprecedented pandemic. In practice, people joining these initiatives motivate many others towards the causes, creating the will to continue in the future and satisfy unmet needs provoked by social crises.

Originality/value

This study is innovative because it is related to filling the gaps identified, mainly by carrying out an empirical study about ISR, rather than that of firms, where studies are more common.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the anonymous referees of the journal for their extremely useful suggestions to improve the quality of the paper. Usual disclaimers apply. The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from National Funds of the FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the project «UIDB/04007/2020».

Citation

Silva, R., Rodrigues, M., Franco, M., Oliveira, C. and Sousa, N. (2023), "How do social responsibility and social entrepreneurship generate value creation in pandemics?", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 305-333. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-07-2021-0108

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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