Confirmation of Candidature - An Examination of the Nature of Australian Business Leaders' Sustainable Entrepreneurial Leadership and its Antecedents

Social enterprises have a dual purpose: they strive to tackle a social or environmental problem while also engaging in commercial activities to sustain their operation (Ridley-Duff, 2008). Much of the entrepreneurial literature focuses on creating value for customers; however, social enterprises must create value for both the customer and the beneficiary. Entrepreneurial leadership is a leadership style that emphasises facilitating followers' recognition and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities (Pauceanu et al. 2021). This research will explore the nature of entrepreneurial leadership in creating social value for beneficiaries. It will begin by exploring what motivates the entrepreneurial leader to pursue creating social value and what competencies and capabilities are required in doing so. Furthermore, it will explore the dynamics of entrepreneurial leadership in facilitating followers both internal to the enterprise and external from the enterprise (i.e., within the beneficiary community) to create meaningful social value for the beneficiary community.

A qualitative methodology will be used. Semi-structured interviews with leaders of social enterprises will be conducted to obtain rich, in-depth data to facilitate a deeper understanding of how entrepreneurial leadership is embodied in creating social value. The findings of this research will make contributions to the field of entrepreneurial leadership, particularly in its application in the realm of social enterprises, and provide valuable insights into the practices that drive social value creation. Beyond its academic contributions, this research also has significant practical implications. The insights gained could guide social enterprises in optimising their operations and maximising their social impact, ultimately resulting in tangible benefits for their beneficiaries.

This research proposal is positioned to not only expand our academic understanding of entrepreneurial leadership and knowledge management in social enterprises but also contribute to the betterment of the communities served by these organisations.

For more information, please email the Graduate Research School or phone 0746 311088.