Transformative and Compensatory Social Enterprise Theories of Change in Discussions of Practitioners in Manitoba

Abstract

This paper considers the extent to which social enterprise practitioners’ outlook on the capacity of social enterprises to transform inequitable socio-economic systems conforms to compensatory or transformative social enterprise theories of change. Data for the study was drawn from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with social enterprise managers and business developers in Manitoba, Canada. Study findings suggest that social enterprise practitioners can and often do hold both compensatory and transformative perspectives at the same time. In other words, while they may operate within a flawed, inequitable socio-economic system, they can also work towards the ultimate transformation of the system into a more equitable one.

Keywords:

• Social enterprise
• practitioners
• social impact
• socio-economic inequality
• systems transformation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).