Antecedents of Social Entrepreneurship: Between Public Service Motivation and the Need for Achievement

Abstract

A survey designed by the authors was administered to social impact hub members worldwide in an effort to better understand the motivational bases of social entrepreneurs. A specific focus in this study was the relationship between entrepreneurial traits, social entrepreneurial identity, and the actual success of a social venture. The assumptions from field observations that the construct of social entrepreneurial identification (SEII) and the successful start of a social venture (SUCC) are related were confirmed when controlling for gender, family, and cultural influences. Public service motivation (PSM), paired with a strong locus of control (LoC), innovativeness (INN) and tenacity (TE) were found to be the suggested qualities of social entrepreneurs. However, managerial experience and a pro-entrepreneurial background culture were much more predictive than was SEII. This study provides an empirical foundation for future research in the area of social entrepreneurship motivation, as well as practical implications for fostering social ventures.