BuildingAnother’sDream:TheEssentialHumanSideofSocialEnterpriseSuccessAndreaNelsonTrice,Ph.D.

SocialEnterprise• Definition– anorganizationthatisdirectlyinvolvedinthesaleofgoodsandservicestoamarket,butthatalsohasspecificsocialobjectivesthatserveasitsprimarypurpose.

Interviewswith~90people

•African,LatinAmerican,andSouthAsiansocialentrepreneurs,communityandbusinessleaders•Americansocialentrepreneurs•NationalswhohavelivedintheWest•Americanexpatriateswhohavelivedforyearsinemergingmarkets

QuestionsI’mAsking• Howdoourdefinitionsofthe“problem”tobesolveddiffer?• Howdoourdefinitionsof“flourishing”differ?•WhatdoAmericansneedtounderstandtobeeffectiveassocialentrepreneurs?•WhatwouldAmericansideallycontributeinemergingmarkets?

BuildingAnother’sDream

“Thatcouldbeme.”- MelindaGates,GatesFoundation

TheOfficialAmericanDream

•Everyonecanbe(economically)successfulandhappyiftheyworkhard•Freedomtopursueandachieveyourdreams•Equality

TheAmericanDream

•Haveenoughmoneyinretirement•Haveasatisfyingcareer•Befinanciallysuccessful

•WhatistheEthiopianorMalawianorZimbabweanDream?

•Howdooursdiffer?

•IstheAmericanDreamadreamworthpursuing?

TheAmericanRelationalDream?

Between1990and2010theuseofantidepressantprescriptionmedicationincreased400%

Between1985and2010,Americanshaveexperienced:• a35%dropinhavingfriendsover• a43%dropinfamilydinners

TheAmericanCareerDream?

•Ouraverageworkweekisnow47hours•40%ofusgetlessthantherecommended7hoursofsleeppernight•55%offull-timeworkersleftvacationdaysunusedin2015

TheAmericanEconomicDream?

GeertHofstede,Culture’sConsequences• “Wecanassumethataslongasthewealthofnationsgrows,theindividualismofthosenations’citizenswillincrease.

• “Povertymakespeopledependonthesupportoftheirin-groups,butwhenacountry’swealthincreases,itscitizensgetaccesstoresourcesthatallowthemto‘dotheirownthing.’Thestorytellerinthevillagemarketisreplacedbytelevisionsets,firstonepervillage,butsoonmore.InwealthyWesternfamilyhomeseveryfamilymembermayhavehisorherownTVset.”

CultureandSocialEnterpriseHowdoescultureinfluencesocialentrepreneurs’• Assumptions?• Approach?• Goals?

IndividualismCollectivism

• Iworkbestalone• “Ifyouwantitdoneright,doityourself”

• Viewofpartnerships• Marketing– howinformationissharedandobtained

• Myneedforothers

• WeismoreimportantthanI• Ingroupsandoutgroups

LinearandCircularTime• Timeisfinite• Timemustbecarefullyspentandsaved

• Wearecontrolledbytime

• Timeisinfinite• Timedoesnotdefineourdayorourrelationships.Itisforustouseaswewish.

• Wecontroltime

• One- threeyeartimeframe• Urgencyofprojects• Efficiencymoreimportantthantakingthetimetobuildsharedunderstandingandcommongoals

Masculine&FeminineCultures• Successisdemonstratedbyquantifiableachievement

• Worthwhileoutcomesaremeasureable

• Achievementplaysacrucialroleinfindinghappiness,meaning

• Successismeasuredbythequalityofourrelationships

• Mostworthwhileoutcomesarenoteasilymeasured

• Relationshipsplayacrucialroleinfindinghappiness,meaning

• Shorttimeframesforprojects• Lotsofpicturesandsocialmediapostings• Focusonoutcomesthatcanbeeasilymeasured• Focusonmaterialwealth(ProgressOutofPoverty)

Future,DreamersandPast,Tradition• Thefutureiswhat’simportant• IcandoanythingIputmymindto,historyofconquest• Creativityisemphasizedinschool

• Thepastplaysaveryimportantrole• Lessconfidence,historyofbeingdominated• Passingonknowledgeispriorityinschool,keepingtradition

• Comfortwithrisk,especiallyamongentrepreneurs• Confidence• Littleregardfortradition• Valuechange,thenew

WeShareCommonGoals

• ImprovedHealth•FoodSecurity• IncreasedOpportunities,Choices•PeopleRealizingTheirPotential

CommonAmericanAssumptions• Youneedus;wemaynotneedyou• SEsarriveinacountryunattachedtocenturiesofdistrustandunequallydistributedpower• Ourdefinitionsofthe“problem”arethesame• The“problem”isoftensolvedthroughtheintroductionofnewtechnologies

•Whatdon’tAmericansunderstandabouttheneedsinyourcountryandaboutyourculture?

•Whatarethebiggestbarriersyouarefacinginyourwork?

•IstherearoleforAmericansinhelpingyoutosolvethesechallenges?

•IsthereavaluableroleAmericansgenerallycanplayonthegroundinyourcountry?

KeyFindings• Buildpartnershipsbasedonothers’strengths– malesandfemales,nationalsandWesterners,individualsacrossprofessions• Humanizeandequalizetherelationshipsbybuildingtrust,respect,hope• Explorepersonalmotivationsforinvolvementinthesocialenterprisespace

BuildingAnother’sDream

“Thatcouldbeme.”- MelindaGates,GatesFoundation

Broken– havingbeenfracturedordamaged;despairing;defeated

Flourishing– togrowwell;tobehealthy;tothrive;peace