| Title | Chapter 8: Innovation for good: Social entrepreneurs develop human capital in resource-restricted ecosystems |
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| DOI | https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2025.BK527.08 |
| Landing page | https://books.aosis.co.za/index.php/ob/catalog/book/527 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Natanya Meyer, Marius Venter & Niel Kruger (eds.). Licensee: AOSIS (Pty) Ltd. The moral right of the editors and authors has been asserted. |
| Publisher | AOSIS |
| Long abstract | Social entrepreneurs in Africa play a major role in solving complex problems in their local communities such as addressing poverty and inequality. The processes for problem-solving are therefore twofold – developing solutions for the problems and developing the people in the communities. Social entrepreneurs, therefore may develop human capital in problem-solving processes. However, social entrepreneurs are often required to be innovative in solving the problems in communities with little or constrained resources. Involving the people in the communities can therefore be a key to sustainable problem solutions, as human capital is also developed in the process. Such an outcome is a phenomenon that may enhance entrepreneurial ecosystems that are intended to support the good and the just. Nevertheless, how social entrepreneurs in Africa go about developing humans in resource-restricted ecosystems is not clear in literature. This chapter, therefore explores the human capital development of social entrepreneurs in Africa through innovative problem-solving processes. Secondary data from the Askoka database are analysed with a thematic analysis to explore and describe processes social entrepreneurs in Africa are applying to solve problems and describe how these processes enable the development of human capital. The findings indicate that socialentrepreneurs in Africa are able to develop human capital in theircommunities with little resources from governments. The findings alsoindicate that through systemic integration, social entrepreneurs in Africaare able to develop humans who are just able to meet needs and createproducts and/or services that are useful. The implications of this study may be linked to the recommendations for enhancing entrepreneurial ecosystems that are aimed to enhance the good and the just in addition to meeting needs of people. |
| Print length | 13 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
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Thea Tselepis is an associate professor in the College of Business Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, serving as the current vice dean for teaching and learning in the same college. She is a former member of the DHET-NRF SARChI Entrepreneurship Education Chair at the same university. She earned her PhD in Consumer Science from the University of Pretoria. Tselepis’s research interest is in the field of design thinking for creatives or businesspeople. She holds an NRF C3-rating, has published over 25 scholarly works, and supervises and mentors staff members, Master’s and PhD candidates in her field.