Abstract
This study assesses whether the capacity of social enterprises to create close relationships with different organizations improves both the economic performance and social performance of such organizations. We consider a particular collaboration oriented strategy (the multiple helix approach) that is characterized by a specific close link between universities and public and private organizations.
Based on the empirical data collected from 612 Italian social enterprises, our results show that a collaborative orientation improves both social performance and economic performance simultaneously. We have also found that such relationships are positively influenced by their readiness for innovation and their propensity for accountability.
We consider that the relationship between collaboration strategy and performance can be mediated by other factors as well. In this case, we have studied the mediation function of readiness for innovation.
Keywords
- Social enterprises
- Collaborative orientation
- Organizational readiness for innovation
- Economic performance
- Social performance
