Heart and soul: business model innovation by a work-integration organization
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aimed to study business model innovation by a work-integration social enterprise (WISE). Specifically, the study investigated how the organization developed novel value propositions and created and delivered value for multiple stakeholders.
Design/methodology/approach
An in-depth qualitative study was conducted at Foreword, a for-profit organization that uses persons with disabilities, mental health conditions and special needs. Data was drawn from semi-structured interviews with stakeholders of the organization and several secondary information sources.
Findings
The authors’ inductive analysis revealed the existence of an innovative and powerful business model that is integrated by the organization’s overarching social mission and anchors its ability to deal with multiple conflicting logics such as economic, social, ecological sustainability and community development, to co-create value with and for multiple stakeholders.
Research limitations/implications
The study underscores the need for business model innovation through enhancing value creation for multiple stakeholders for for-profit WISEs. Since the analysis and resulting model in the study are based on a single organization in a geographically small, affluent country with a hands-on government, they may need to be modified before applying in other contexts.
Practical implications
The study identifies several pointers for other social enterprises – specifically the need for managers to build business models appropriate for their organizational and environmental contexts.
Originality/value
The study’s originality stems from the adoption of a stakeholder lens to examine business model innovation. It also proposes an integrative conceptual model of the antecedents and outcomes of business model innovation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge Foreword Coffee Roasters for their active support during data gathering for this study and providing other unpublished information. They thank the co-founders, Wei Jie Lim and Nadi Chan for consenting to be interviewed and sharing their valuable insights. They would also like to acknowledge Foreword’s staff Grace Neo and James; other stakeholders, Jia Yuin Tay from SG Enable; Kelly, the job coach volunteer; and the coffee bean suppliers, Komal Sable from The South India Coffee Company and Maarten Hol from Yunnan Coffee for their keen views and thoughts. The authors thank the editors and the anonymous reviewers for guiding them.
Citation
Singh, A.R. and Pangarkar, N. (2024), "Heart and soul: business model innovation by a work-integration organization", Social Enterprise Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-12-2023-0152
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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