Gemenskap i tider av den Programmerade maskinen. En analys av sociala företags strategier för långsiktig hållbarhet

Sammanfattning

Moving ahead from the domination of either side of established powers like socialism, capitalism, or all the -isms, another way seems possible. As we know from history, there is a great potential and capacity that lies within civil society that finds creative ways to tackle the problems others have failed to address. The study aimed to explore the strategies that social enterprises apply to reconcile social and economic goals, and how these strategies contribute to their long-term sustainability. Data was collected through qualitative semi-structured interviews with six social enterprises in Sweden. We have explored the different typologies of organisation with the help of Mintzberg's organisational theory and analysed social business strategies to create a balance between social and economic goals on the way to a more sustainable development. As we found, there are no rigid categories applicable for all, rather unique mixes of processes, ongoing reflection on the circumstances they are facing in a very fast-changing world.