Hazenberg, R., Seddon, F. A. and Denny, S. (2012) WISEs: an Anglo-Swedish comparison. Paper presented to: 4th International Social Innovation Research Conference (ISIRC), University of Birmingham, 12-14 September 2012. (Unpublished)
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | Prior research into organisational variance between Swedish and UK businesses found that Swedish businesses operated flatter hierarchical structures, more open (but slower) decision-making processes and utilised greater numbers of stakeholders in delivering organisational aims. However, to date no such comparison has been conducted between UK and Swedish WISEs. This study explored the organisational differences between Swedish and UK WISEs. In total 28 individuals participated across four case-study organisations. The key areas explored were the WISEs’ organisational structures, decision-making process, the types of performance evaluation used and how dependent upon state support each case-study was. Results suggest that there are significant differences between WISEs in the UK and Sweden, with the prevalence of state funding and overt political support for social enterprises in the UK leading to the growth of intermediate labour-market organisations (ILMOs). In Sweden, the research suggests that there is a lack of understanding of social enterprise and a lack of firm financial or political support. This leads Swedish WISEs to access private sector income through trade to a greater degree than their UK counterparts and to operate as ‘social firms’ or ‘worker cooperatives’. Performance evaluation measurement was also a key differentiator between the Swedish and UK WISEs, with the UK WISEs pursuing performance evaluation mainly to fulfil contractual obligations, as opposed to the Swedish WISEs that freely undertook such evaluations. Finally, the organisational structure of the Swedish WISEs was shown to be flatter and more inclusive than the UK WISEs and this led to a more democratic decision-making process, albeit one that was slower |
| Subjects: |
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD60 Social responsibility of business H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions > HC94 By region or country > HC375 Sweden H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory > HB615 Entrepreneurship. Risk and uncertainty. Property |
| Creators: | Hazenberg, Richard, Seddon, Frederick A and Denny, Simon |
| Northamptonshire and East Midlands: | Business and Industry |
| Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: |
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Centre for Entrepreneurship, Enterprise and Governance University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016) University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Social Enterprise Research Group University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Institute for Social Innovation and Impact Research Institutes > Institute for Social Innovation and Impact |
| Date: | 12 September 2012 |
| Date Type: | Presentation |
| Event Title: | 4th International Social Innovation Research Conference (ISIRC) |
| Event Dates: | 12-14 September 2012 |
| Event Location: | University of Birmingham |
| Event Type: | Conference |
| Language: | English |
| Status: | Unpublished |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/4586 |
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