How far has the social and inclusive enterprise come?
A survey by AICCON helps to deepen understanding on this important part of the production system
A social enterprise is a company that combines the objective of making a profit and achieving annual statements that benefit inclusion, as well as social cohesion, with a particular focus on those who find themselves in vulnerable or disadvantaged situations.
Part of a more complete and, certainly, a more complex business culture, social enterprises must be understood thoroughly and in any event considered on a par with the rest of production organisations. To assist with this, the “Report 2020 Filiere Inclusive e Coesive” (Inclusive and Cohesive Supply Chains 2020 Report) was written by several people as part of the research activities of AICCON (Italian Association for the Promotion of the Culture of Cooperation and Non-Profit), at the School of Economics and Management of University of Bologna, Forlì campus.
The research aims to meet the need for an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of the world of social enterprises and to see them as leaders in the ongoing processes of change and development. The authors aimed to look more closely at “production chains that have a ‘double helix’ of value”. On one hand, focusing on weak subjects (from an employment and accessibility to welfare services point of view) and on social cohesion (through the creation of what are referred to as “local economies” that reactivate the fabric of communities). On the other, social enterprises are increasingly set up as promoters or parties directly involved in the restoration and revitalisation of economies based on tourism, culture, agriculture, education, training and more, and which act within complex economic and social systems.
Therefore, this collection of surveys begins by looking at a theoretical framework of social entrepreneurship considered within the inclusion chain, and from there it moves on to an analysis of social cooperation and social enterprises based on significant numbers, whereas the second part of the surveys focuses on a series of major case studies – on hospitality and inclusion, tourism, cultural heritage, agri-food and others –, set in Turin, Senigallia, Catania and Arezzo.
Among their conclusions, the authors note “Even in the field of social enterprise, it is clear that the ‘supply chain’, even with all its nuances, is configured not so much as a synonym for other practical use concepts such as ‘network’ and ‘value chain’. Rather, it is a way to manage a complexity of inputs and production factors that are only partially within the same organisational context and which also impacts on the mission of this particular type of company”.
Report 2020 Filiere Inclusive e Coesive (Inclusive and Cohesive Supply Chains 2020 Report)
AA.VV., AICCON c/o School of Economics and Management University of Bologna, Forlì campus, 2020
A survey by AICCON helps to deepen understanding on this important part of the production system
A social enterprise is a company that combines the objective of making a profit and achieving annual statements that benefit inclusion, as well as social cohesion, with a particular focus on those who find themselves in vulnerable or disadvantaged situations.
Part of a more complete and, certainly, a more complex business culture, social enterprises must be understood thoroughly and in any event considered on a par with the rest of production organisations. To assist with this, the “Report 2020 Filiere Inclusive e Coesive” (Inclusive and Cohesive Supply Chains 2020 Report) was written by several people as part of the research activities of AICCON (Italian Association for the Promotion of the Culture of Cooperation and Non-Profit), at the School of Economics and Management of University of Bologna, Forlì campus.
The research aims to meet the need for an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of the world of social enterprises and to see them as leaders in the ongoing processes of change and development. The authors aimed to look more closely at “production chains that have a ‘double helix’ of value”. On one hand, focusing on weak subjects (from an employment and accessibility to welfare services point of view) and on social cohesion (through the creation of what are referred to as “local economies” that reactivate the fabric of communities). On the other, social enterprises are increasingly set up as promoters or parties directly involved in the restoration and revitalisation of economies based on tourism, culture, agriculture, education, training and more, and which act within complex economic and social systems.
Therefore, this collection of surveys begins by looking at a theoretical framework of social entrepreneurship considered within the inclusion chain, and from there it moves on to an analysis of social cooperation and social enterprises based on significant numbers, whereas the second part of the surveys focuses on a series of major case studies – on hospitality and inclusion, tourism, cultural heritage, agri-food and others –, set in Turin, Senigallia, Catania and Arezzo.
Among their conclusions, the authors note “Even in the field of social enterprise, it is clear that the ‘supply chain’, even with all its nuances, is configured not so much as a synonym for other practical use concepts such as ‘network’ and ‘value chain’. Rather, it is a way to manage a complexity of inputs and production factors that are only partially within the same organisational context and which also impacts on the mission of this particular type of company”.
Report 2020 Filiere Inclusive e Coesive (Inclusive and Cohesive Supply Chains 2020 Report)
AA.VV., AICCON c/o School of Economics and Management University of Bologna, Forlì campus, 2020