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A study of the sustainable culture of social enterprises in Singapore
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Type
Thesis
Author
Chng, Huang Hong
Supervisor
Tan, Charlene
Low, Guat Tin
Abstract
This study is an attempt to fill the gap in the thinking, practice and framing of the social enterprise for sustainability in the Singaporean context. The objective of the study is: firstly, to derive a definition of a sustainable social enterprise and to forge a shared understanding, give legitimacy, and raise the professional status of practitioners; secondly, to research into the factors, issues and challenges that social entrepreneurs face in becoming sustainable; and finally, to enable social enterprises in Singapore to remain sustainable.
Interpretivism is the epistemological stance and Symbolic Interactionism is the theoretical perspective adopted. Discourse Analysis is the methodology and Case Study is the research method used in this study.
Quintessentially, this study has provided a better understanding of the factors that will enable social enterprises to become successful and remain sustainable organisations. It has revealed that the prevailing definition of the social enterprise in Singapore is lacking in clarity in what a social enterprise constitutes and a more nuanced definition has been proffered to account for sustainability. It is also evident that while all the social enterprises in this study have some semblance of a learning organisation they have other characteristics that are pertinent to their sustainability. These findings have rendered support to the argument for a new paradigm for sustainability of the social enterprise in Singapore. It has enabled the formulation of a Sustainability Index to provide the means for the social enterprise in Singapore to check, measure and frame their organisations for sustainability. This Sustainability Index is also useful to sponsors, stakeholders and governing bodies as they seek to better appreciate and evaluate the value of the work of the social enterprises in Singapore.
Interpretivism is the epistemological stance and Symbolic Interactionism is the theoretical perspective adopted. Discourse Analysis is the methodology and Case Study is the research method used in this study.
Quintessentially, this study has provided a better understanding of the factors that will enable social enterprises to become successful and remain sustainable organisations. It has revealed that the prevailing definition of the social enterprise in Singapore is lacking in clarity in what a social enterprise constitutes and a more nuanced definition has been proffered to account for sustainability. It is also evident that while all the social enterprises in this study have some semblance of a learning organisation they have other characteristics that are pertinent to their sustainability. These findings have rendered support to the argument for a new paradigm for sustainability of the social enterprise in Singapore. It has enabled the formulation of a Sustainability Index to provide the means for the social enterprise in Singapore to check, measure and frame their organisations for sustainability. This Sustainability Index is also useful to sponsors, stakeholders and governing bodies as they seek to better appreciate and evaluate the value of the work of the social enterprises in Singapore.
Date Issued
2019
Call Number
HD60 Chn