Exploring social entrepreneurship practices: A study of framing, convening, and multivocality constructs

Abstract

This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the Social Entrepreneurship (SE) framework and practices. Despite the growing interest in SE, the literature lacks clear dimensions of SE practices. A total of 718 documents spanning 1980–2024 were initially collected from the Scopus database. Following the PRISMA model, 55 Scopus-indexed papers specifically related to social entrepreneurship were selected for conducting a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) along with thematic analysis, resulting in the introduction of 17 SE practices under three constructs, namely ‘Framing, Convening, and Multivocality’. To explore how these practices are prevalent in the Indian context, an exploratory qualitative analysis was conducted using in-depth case studies of 10 prominent social enterprises operating across different sectors such as healthcare, sanitation, community empowerment, employment, and the environment. For analysis, Excel and ATLAS.ti software were used for visual presentation by generating themes and codes. The findings reveal that while these enterprises vary in nature and scope, they share the identified practices as a basic foundation that drives significant sustainable social value. This study presents realistic guidance that helps entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers develop better social enterprises through practice integration.