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Extending the Resource-Based View of Social Entrepreneurship: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Scaling Impact

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  • Steven William Day

    (Department of Computer Information Systems, North Carolina Central University, 1801 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA)

  • Howard Jean-Denis

    (Business and Economics Division, Morehouse College, 830 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA)

  • Erastus Karanja

    (Department of Computer Information Systems, North Carolina Central University, 1801 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA)

Abstract

This paper extends the resource-based view (RBV) of social entrepreneurship by introducing artificial intelligence (AI) as a dynamic, integrative capability that enhances the acquisition and optimization of four foundational forms of capital: human, social, political, and financial. While social ventures have long faced constraints in scaling impact due to resource limitations and institutional barriers, AI technologies—such as predictive analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing—offer new pathways for improving operational efficiency, stakeholder engagement, advocacy strategies, and financial sustainability. Through the development of a conceptual model and a series of theoretical propositions, this study positions AI as a transformative force that not only strengthens individual resource domains but also enables synergistic feedback loops across them. In doing so, the paper contributes to emerging debates on technology adoption in hybrid organizations, scalability in resource-constrained contexts, and the evolution of strategic management theory in the digital age. Practical implications are outlined for social entrepreneurs, policymakers, and funders seeking to responsibly integrate AI into social impact ecosystems, and future research directions are proposed to empirically test the framework across sectors and global settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven William Day & Howard Jean-Denis & Erastus Karanja, 2025. "Extending the Resource-Based View of Social Entrepreneurship: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Scaling Impact," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:18:y:2025:i:7:p:341-:d:1683222
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
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