Entrepreneurial orientation, externalities and social entrepreneurship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider how the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) may support or diminish the creation of social value.Design/methodology/approachThe approach applies Lumpkin and Dess’s multidimensional conceptualization of EO to the growing body of literature on social entrepreneurship.FindingsPropositions on the effects of autonomy, competitive aggressiveness, innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking on social value creation are developed.Research limitations/implicationsThe propositions offered in the paper suggest avenues for future empirical studies that seek to examine the impact of EO on social, rather than financial, performance.Originality/valueA significant body of research has examined the relationship between EO and financial performance, but potential implications for social value creation remain unclear. This paper seeks to address this gap in understanding of EO and social entrepreneurship and argues that two components of EO may adversely impact the creation of social value.