Leadership in social business: A needed context

Abstract

The definition of leadership and the search for an ideal leader model are recurrent concerns of organizations and the common theme in academic research. The present study is an example of this when analyzing the role of the leader in social affairs. These organizations are complex structures that demand more studies, since they have as a priority a social mission and an altruistic action, on the other hand, they seek the creation of economic value as a necessary condition to maintain financial sustainability. The analysis of the literature showed that the concept of social business is still poorly defined, and its limits to other fields of study remain obscure. Leadership in social business is evolving, lacking clarity of definition and appropriate tools to characterize, develop, and test it.