IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jadmsc/v15y2025i6p222-d1674605.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Roles of Social Entrepreneur Competencies and Social Innovation in Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship in Thailand

Author

Listed:
  • Nilubon Wirotthitiyawong

    (Department of Management, Faculty of Business Administration, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand)

  • Natcha Limpasirisuwan

    (Department of Management, Faculty of Business Administration, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand)

  • Atcharawan Thaodon

    (Department of Management, Faculty of Business Administration, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand)

  • Warantorn Wimuttisuksuntorn

    (Department of Management, Faculty of Business Administration, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand)

  • Thanapong Champahom

    (Department of Management, Faculty of Business Administration, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand)

Abstract

This research examines social entrepreneur competencies and the ability to create value through social innovation, which affect sustainability in Thai social enterprises. The study used questionnaires administered to 200 social enterprises registered with the Social Enterprise Promotion Office. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that social entrepreneur competencies had the highest overall mean among causal factors, while sustainability in social entrepreneur groups had a high mean level. The study found that visionary leadership was the strongest indicator of social entrepreneur competencies, marketing innovation was the strongest indicator of innovation capability, and environmental performance was the strongest indicator of sustainability outcomes. Social entrepreneur competencies strongly influenced the ability to create value through social innovation ( β = 0.972), which in turn significantly affected sustainability outcomes ( β = 0.707). The study’s limitations include its cross-sectional nature and its focus solely on registered social enterprises. These findings can guide policy formulation to help enterprises create value through social innovation and achieve sustainable success.

Suggested Citation

  • Nilubon Wirotthitiyawong & Natcha Limpasirisuwan & Atcharawan Thaodon & Warantorn Wimuttisuksuntorn & Thanapong Champahom, 2025. "The Roles of Social Entrepreneur Competencies and Social Innovation in Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship in Thailand," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-29, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:15:y:2025:i:6:p:222-:d:1674605
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/6/222/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/6/222/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Najeb Masoud, 2017. "How to win the battle of ideas in corporate social responsibility: the International Pyramid Model of CSR," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Estrin, Saul & Mickiewicz, Tomasz & Stephan, Ute, 2016. "Human capital in social and commercial entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 449-467.
    3. Jeremy Galbreath, 2018. "Do Boards of Directors Influence Corporate Sustainable Development? An Attention‐Based Analysis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(6), pages 742-756, September.
    4. Dubey, Rameshwar & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Samar Ali, Sadia, 2015. "Exploring the relationship between leadership, operational practices, institutional pressures and environmental performance: A framework for green supply chain," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 120-132.
    5. Veland Ramadani & Sucheta Agarwal & Andrea Caputo & Vivek Agrawal & Jitendra Kumar Dixit, 2022. "Sustainable competencies of social entrepreneurship for sustainable development: Exploratory analysis from a developing economy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3437-3453, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Amirmahmood Amini Sedeh & Rosa Caiazza, 2024. "Does entrepreneurship hold the key? Steering through income inequality towards happiness," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4424-4440, July.
    2. Barbara Bradač Hojnik & Katja Crnogaj, 2020. "Social Impact, Innovations, and Market Activity of Social Enterprises: Comparison of European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Ahmed Hasanein & Ibrahim Elshaer, 2020. "Influences of Green Human Resources Management on Environmental Performance in Small Lodging Enterprises: The Role of Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Xiaoyu Yu & Xiaotong Meng & Laura Stanley & Franz W. Kellermanns, 2024. "Self-employment and life satisfaction: The contingent role of formal institutions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 135-163, June.
    5. Dimple & Mamta Tripathi, 2024. "Bridging the Gap Between High-Performance Work System and Organizational Performance: Role of Organizational Agility, Transformational Leadership, and Human Resource Flexibility," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 25(2), pages 369-393, June.
    6. Ferreira, Joao J. & Fernandes, Cristina I. & Veiga, Pedro Mota & Caputo, Andrea, 2022. "The interactions of entrepreneurial attitudes, abilities and aspirations in the (twin) environmental and digital transitions? A dynamic panel data approach," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    7. Sameeksha Desai & Johan E. Eklund & Emma Lappi, 2020. "Entry Regulation and Persistence of Profits in Incumbent Firms," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 57(3), pages 537-558, November.
    8. Wang, Quan-Jing & Wang, Hai-Jie & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2022. "Environmental performance, green finance and green innovation: What's the long-run relationships among variables?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    9. Saul Estrin & Tomasz Mickiewicz & Anna Rebmann, 2017. "Prospect theory and the effects of bankruptcy laws on entrepreneurial aspirations," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 977-997, April.
    10. Amer Saeed & Yun Jun & Saviour Ayertey Nubuor & Hewawasam Puwakpitiyage Rasika Priyankara & Mahabaduge Prasad Fernando Jayasuriya, 2018. "Institutional Pressures, Green Supply Chain Management Practices on Environmental and Economic Performance: A Two Theory View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-24, May.
    11. Xing, Yijun & Liu, Yipeng & Lattemann, Christoph, 2020. "Institutional logics and social enterprises: Entry mode choices of foreign hospitals in China," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(5).
    12. Aidin Salamzadeh & Zahra Arasti & Ghanbar Mohamadi Elyasi, 2017. "Creation of ICT-Based Social Start-Ups in Iran: A Multiple Case Study," Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 25(01), pages 97-122, March.
    13. Tamar Balgiashvili, 2017. "Comparing Entrepreneurial Passion of Social and Commercial Entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2017(4), pages 45-61.
    14. Yami, Saïd & M'Chirgui, Zouhaier & Spano, Claude & Gontier Barykina, Olga, 2021. "Reinventing science and technology entrepreneurship education: The role of human and social capitals," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    15. Stephan, Ute & Tavares, Susana M. & Carvalho, Helena & Ramalho, Joaquim J.S. & Santos, Susana C. & van Veldhoven, Marc, 2020. "Self-employment and eudaimonic well-being: Energized by meaning, enabled by societal legitimacy," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(6).
    16. Yingjie Hao & Congcong Fan & Yunguang Long & Jieyi Pan, 2019. "The role of returnee executives in improving green innovation performance of Chinese manufacturing enterprises: Implications for sustainable development strategy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 804-818, July.
    17. Yang Liu & Han Zhang & Fukang Zhang, 2024. "The power of CEO growing up in poverty: Enabling better corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1610-1633, May.
    18. Tarek Alaati & Muhammad Nizam & Ary Setyawan & Prabang Setyono, 2016. "Exploratory Study of Leadership Behavior Impact on Environmental Performance of Industrial Companies in Libya," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(2), pages 119-119, January.
    19. Dewan Muktadir‐Al‐Mukit & Firoz Haroon Bhaiyat, 2024. "Impact of corporate governance diversity on carbon emission under environmental policy via the mandatory nonfinancial reporting regulation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1397-1417, February.
    20. Fadil Sahiti, 2021. "Institutions and entrepreneurial activity: a comparative analysis of Kosovo and other economies," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(1), pages 98-119, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:15:y:2025:i:6:p:222-:d:1674605. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.