Social Value Creation in the Context of Social Entrepreneurship

Abstract

In the face of growing global social, economic, and environmental challenges, social entrepreneurship is gaining recognition as a viable model for sustainable value creation. Social enterprises aim to generate income, address complex social issues, and contribute to long-term societal well-being. Despite growing academic interest in social value, there remains a lack of empirical research on how social value is practically created and evaluated, particularly in emerging contexts such as Lithuania. This study seeks to bridge that gap by examining the process of creating social value within Lithuanian social enterprises. Drawing on a multiple case study approach, the article presents and compares seven Lithuanian social enterprises’ semi-structured interviews. The findings illustrate the multidimensional nature of social value creation, highlighting how Lithuanian social enterprises foster social inclusion, community empowerment, and sustainable impact despite systemic challenges such as unclear legal frameworks and limited financial resources. The study contributes to a deeper theoretical understanding of social value creation and provides practical insights for policymakers and social innovation practitioners seeking to strengthen the ecosystem for social entrepreneurship in Lithuania.