Generating elements of social entrepreneurship’s dimensions

Abstract

Purpose: this study has a dual objective. First, it aims to identify the main academic literature elements of entrepreneurship which are measurement aspects. Second, to extract the dimensions associated with social entrepreneurship and pointing out its potential categories of analysis. Methodology: it is bibliographic research that reviewed the entrepreneurship models published in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. These models and their elements were analyzed using a qualitative methodology of content analysis with extraction supported by the Iramuteq software. Also, a lexical analysis was applied to allow the use of Descending Hierarchical Classification (CHD) and Similarity analysis techniques. Main findings: the analysis of studies that measure entrepreneurship pointed to the existence of two dimensions. First dimension towards traditional entrepreneurship. The second dimension aims at social entrepreneurship, and despite it is independent, this dimension uses aspects of traditional entrepreneurship. However, this new dimension is gaining its own space and, in the future, it may occupy the status of a paradigm. Theoretical/methodological contributions: qualitative data were treated quantitatively, allowing the statistical analysis of the dimensions used by entrepreneurship researchers and the subfield of social entrepreneurship. Therefore, the research identified relevant variables, which can be empirically validated to develop new instruments for measuring entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. Originality/value: the research identified the elements of measurement of entrepreneurship. Thus, the results contribute to guiding researchers in the construction of models or measurement instruments and the findings and present an overview of the field. Practical & Social implications: social entrepreneurship mitigates several social problems. Thus, studies of reviews that support future management tools in this subfield contribute to society and managers.