Silulo Ulutho Technologies: African social enterprise driving inclusive business practice

Abstract

Learning outcomes This paper aims to present an opportunity to explore the opportunities and challenges involved in running a business with a strongly ingrained social vision in the complex, multi-dimensional environment of an emerging economy. Key learning areas are as follows: How the concept of inclusive innovation applies to the real-world difficulties faced by businesses operating in informal economies. By exploring the tensions between growth and inclusivity in Silulo’s development, students will grasp the challenges entrepreneurs face as a business starts to gain momentum and change, and gain appreciation for the trade-offs that occur when choosing between franchising and organic growth. The challenges of a rapidly evolving technological environment, the need to adapt service offerings at pace, and the importance of balancing financial considerations with deeper social values will find application far beyond the informal economy context of the Silulo story. Case overview/synopsis This teaching case looks at Silulo Ulutho Technologies via CEO Luvuyo Rani and the challenges he faces in balancing expansion and profitability with its mission of empowering disenfranchised communities – challenges exacerbated by a changing telecommunications environment, with more widespread internet availability, mobile phones and online training courses encroaching on Silulo’s traditional service offering. Complexity academic level This case focusses primarily on the processes of inclusive innovation and is suitable for graduate courses in social entrepreneurship, business model innovation, sustainability, business and society, strategic management, emerging markets, business in Africa and organisational studies in general. The case is suitable for Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive MBA academic programmes and delegates on Executive Education programmes. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship

Sustainable Entrepreneurship Education: A Systematic Bibliometric Literature Review

“…This allows the incorporation of sustainability into academic curricula and consulting activities [24], which triggers a wide-open systemic thinking that is particularly fruitful for students for developing their complex problem-solving skills, thereby strengthening management education [18]. Lastly, children's education becomes also invigorated by field experimenting, while participating in entrepreneurship education programs and finding that monetary rewards are associated with sustainable behaviors [45].…”

“…Fifth, those teaching methods should be tested in different contexts, for instance, combining the interplay between the constructs of innovation, environmental sustainability, and entrepreneurship, by students of higher educational institutions in developing countries. It is commonly accepted that teaching innovation is key to promoting entrepreneurship among college students [28], either by incorporating innovation into real-life business constraints, or by an understanding of the informal trade-offs involved [45,46]. Moreover, such innovation can be disseminated through communities of practice, as SEE can positively impact the behaviors and practices of sustainability educators, turning them into agents of collaboration and interaction [17].…”

“…First, there is principally a purpose-driven motivation for the circular economy as a solution, which should focus on the environmental education of various market players, through the achievement of entrepreneurial education and experience [56]. Enhancing social and environmental issues through a variety of educational opportunities enables the concerned players to highlight and develop effective solutions [31,45,59].…”

Sustainable Entrepreneurship Education: a Systematic Bibliometric Literature Review

“…It allows thus to incorporate sustainability into academic curricula and consulting activities [24], which triggers a wide open systemic thinking that is particularly fruitful for students in developing their complex problem-solving skills, thereby strengthening management education [18]. Lastly, children education become also invigorated by field experimenting,, while participating in entrepreneurship education programs and finding that monetary rewards are associated with sustainable behaviors [45].…”

“…Fifth, those teaching methods have been tested in different contexts, for instance combining the interplay between the constructs of innovation, environmental sustainability and entrepreneurship, by students of higher educational institutions in developing countries. In so, it has been commonly accepted that teaching innovation is key to promote entrepreneurship among college students [28], either by incorporating innovation into the real-life businesses constraints, or by an understanding of the informal trade-offs involved [45,46]. Moreover, such innovation can be disseminated through communities of practice, as SEE can positively impact the behaviors and practices of sustainability educators, turning them into agents of collaboration and interaction [17].…”