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The Impact of Moral Intensity and Desire for Control on Scaling Decisions in Social Entrepreneurship

Author

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  • Brett R. Smith

    (Miami University)

  • Geoffrey M. Kistruck

    (York University)

  • Benedetto Cannatelli

    (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore)

Abstract

While research has focused on why certain entrepreneurs elect to create innovative solutions to social problems, very little is known about why some social entrepreneurs choose to scale their solutions while others do not. Research on scaling has generally focused on organizational characteristics often overlooking factors at the individual level that may affect scaling decisions. Drawing on the multidimensional construct of moral intensity, we propose a theoretical model of ethical decision making to explain why a social entrepreneur’s perception of moral intensity of the social problem, coupled with their personal desire for control, can significantly influence scaling decisions. Specifically, we propose that higher levels of perceived moral intensity will positively influence the likelihood of scaling through open as opposed to closed modes in order to achieve greater speed and scope of social impact. However, we also propose this effect will be negatively moderated by a social entrepreneur’s higher levels of desire for control. Our model has implications for research and practice at the interface of ethics and social entrepreneurship.

Suggested Citation

  • Brett R. Smith & Geoffrey M. Kistruck & Benedetto Cannatelli, 2016. "The Impact of Moral Intensity and Desire for Control on Scaling Decisions in Social Entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 133(4), pages 677-689, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:133:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-014-2447-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-014-2447-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Karin Kreutzer, 2022. "On the Discursive Construction of Social Entrepreneurship in Pitch Situations: The Intertextual Reproduction of Business and Social Discourse by Presenters and Their Audience," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(4), pages 1071-1090, September.
    4. Busch, Christian & Barkema, Harry, 2022. "Align or perish: social enterprise network orchestration in Sub-Saharan Africa," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115350, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Palmié, Maximilian & Parida, Vinit & Mader, Anna & Wincent, Joakim, 2023. "Clarifying the scaling concept: A review, definition, and measure of scaling performance and an elaborate agenda for future research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    6. Alessandro Giudici & James G. Combs & Benedetto Lorenzo Cannatelli & Brett R. Smith, 2020. "Successful Scaling in Social Franchising: The Case of Impact Hub," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 44(2), pages 288-314, March.
    7. Sutter, Christopher & Bruton, Garry D. & Chen, Juanyi, 2019. "Entrepreneurship as a solution to extreme poverty: A review and future research directions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 197-214.
    8. Benedetto Lorenzo Cannatelli & Brett Richard Smith & Alisa Sydow, 2019. "Entrepreneurship in the Controversial Economy: Toward a Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(3), pages 837-851, March.
    9. Kishore Kumar François & Hoe Chin Goi, 2023. "Business Model for Scaling Social Impact towards Sustainability by Social Entrepreneurs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-17, September.
    10. Islam, Syrus M., 2020. "Towards an integrative definition of scaling social impact in social enterprises," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 13(C).
    11. Anna Kwiotkowska, 2022. "Organizational Capabilities and Social Entrepreneurship: A Fuzzy-set Approach," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 272-285.
    12. Luca Mongelli & Francesco Rullani & Tommaso Ramus & Tomislav Rimac, 2019. "The Bright Side of Hybridity: Exploring How Social Enterprises Manage and Leverage Their Hybrid Nature," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 301-305, October.
    13. Sophie Bacq & Kimberly A. Eddleston, 2018. "A Resource-Based View of Social Entrepreneurship: How Stewardship Culture Benefits Scale of Social Impact," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 589-611, October.
    14. Rosanna Garcia & Daniel W. Baack, 2023. "The Invisible Racialized Minority Entrepreneur: Using White Solipsism to Explain the White Space," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(3), pages 397-418, December.
    15. Silvana Secinaro & Davide Calandra & Denisa Petricean & Federico Chmet, 2020. "Social Finance and Banking Research as a Driver for Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    16. Thomas Bauwens & Benjamin Huybrechts & Frédéric Dufays, 2020. "Understanding the Diverse Scaling Strategies of Social Enterprises as Hybrid Organizations," Post-Print hal-02312322, HAL.
    17. Shepherd, Dean A. & Seyb, Stella & Williams, Trenton A., 2023. "Empathy-driven entrepreneurial action: Well-being outcomes for entrepreneurs and target beneficiaries," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 38(2).
    18. Syrus M Islam, 2022. "Social impact scaling strategies in social enterprises: A systematic review and research agenda," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 47(2), pages 298-321, May.
    19. Busch, Christian & Barkema, Harry, 2022. "Align or perish: Social enterprise network orchestration in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(2).
    20. Alisa Sydow & Benedetto Lorenzo Cannatelli & Alessandro Giudici & Mario Molteni, 2022. "Entrepreneurial Workaround Practices in Severe Institutional Voids: Evidence From Kenya," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(2), pages 331-367, March.
    21. De Beule, Filip & Klein, Martin & Verwaal, Ernst, 2020. "Institutional quality and inclusive strategies at the base of the pyramid," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(5).
    22. Jessica Aschari-Lincoln & Claus D. Jacobs, 2018. "Enabling Effective Social Impact: Towards a Model for Impact Scaling Agreements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, December.
    23. Dean A. Shepherd & Holger Patzelt, 2022. "A Call for Research on the Scaling of Organizations and the Scaling of Social Impact," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(2), pages 255-268, March.

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