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Practicing what you preach: Social enterprise resource utilization and its signalling implications

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  • Prior, Daniel D.
  • Yu, Ava Huijuan
  • Carlini, Joan
  • Marimuthu, Malliga
  • Keränen, Joona

Abstract

Social enterprises (SEs) continue to emerge as important contributors to social, economic, and environmental sustainability. SE resource utilization can, however, compromise SE legitimacy. We argue that this is in part due to the implicit and subtle relationship between SE resource utilization and signalling, topics which receive little consideration in the present literature. Drawing on 31 in-depth interviews with senior SE representatives and an abductive research design, the present study uncovers two unique resource utilization dimensions – purpose embeddedness and signalling curation – which help explain this relationship. These are the basis of four propositions which highlight the SE-specific implications of SE resource utilization and signalling. The study also involves implications for theory and practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Prior, Daniel D. & Yu, Ava Huijuan & Carlini, Joan & Marimuthu, Malliga & Keränen, Joona, 2026. "Practicing what you preach: Social enterprise resource utilization and its signalling implications," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:210:y:2026:i:c:s0148296326001852
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.116150
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