An Analysis of Social Enterprises Governance Models Through a Comparative Study of the Legislation of Eleven Countries

Abstract

Abstract:Social Enterprise is increasingly becoming a pressing area of study in European faculties, and likewise, a broad range of literature has been produced on the various, relating arguments.One of the aspects least focused upon, however, regards the issue of governance; which is a fundamental aspect when defining a type of governing system that could lead to an improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of social enterprises. The need to combine both social and economic aims in the decision making process also emphasizes the importance of stakeholder participation.Furthermore, seeing as how social enterprises work in an environment of high public involvement, whether it be with public entities or with the community as a whole, issues such as business administration and activity supervision, come to be of high importance. The production of social utility goods and/or services is directed toward a plurality of local actors, which are to be furthermore guaranteed a high level of accountability and transparency. This paper explores governance through an in-depth analysis and comparison of the legislation of eleven countries on social enterprise or social cooperatives

Resultado económico y de empleo en las organizaciones sociales de origen familiar

“…Se trata de entidades con características propias, que se sitúan en valores, capacidades y performance a medio camino entre una empresa tradicional y una entidad sin fines lucrativos sin orientación de mercado (Pearce y Kay, 2003, Chavés y Monzón, 2012, Díaz-Foncea y Marcuello, 2012, Bellostas et al, 2016. Esta concepción es extrapolable tanto a ciertas organizaciones empresariales como a ciertas fundaciones y asociaciones (Dees, 2001, Travaglini et al, 2010, Alter, 2006, Etchart y Davis, 1999, López-Arceiz et al, 2016. En este sentido, Defourny y Nyssens (2008), Austin et al (2006), Chad (2013) y Eikenberry y Kluver (2004) pronosticaban la identificación como empresa social de todas aquellas entidades sin fines lucrativos que respondieran a comportamientos de corte empresarial.…”

Inclusive Governance in Social Enterprises in the Netherlands – A Case Study

“…Corporate governance can be defined as the division of powers within a company, comprising elements of management and control (Travaglini et al. : 6), and in the Netherlands – as this jurisdiction has adopted the stakeholder model (Kroeze et al. ) – balancing the interests of the various stakeholder groups.…”

“…An important way in which inclusive governance can be given shape is through multi‐stakeholder ownership and direct representation in the decision‐making processes (Travaglini et al. : 11–13, Argyrou et al , , Galera and Borzaga : 214, 217, Defourny and Nyssens : 283, Cafaggi and Iamiceli : 28, Borzaga and Sacchetti ). Depending on the legal form of the organization, this ownership is in the form of either membership of or a capital share(s) in the social enterprise.…”

Social Entrepreneurship and Social Business: Retrospective and Prospective Research

“…It is also often based on cooperatives, with beneficiary participation and that intend to address issues as social inclusion and employment (Comini et al, 2012;Kerlin 2006;Travaglini, Bandini, & Mancinone, 2009). …”