The Common Good

A case study in social enterprise

Session overview
09.30 10.00 10.00 10.15 10.15 10.30 10.30 11.40 11.40 12.10 12.10 12.30 Introduction to Social Enterprise Ideas for solutions to social/ environmental problems Promote ideas & group formation Develop your idea & prepare poster Poster session & seek support Debrief

What do these organisations have in common?

What is a social enterprise?

I made a list of people who needed just a little bit of money. And when the list was complete, there were 42 names. The total amount of money they needed was $27. I was shocked. - Muhammad Yunus

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man
George Bernard Shaw

Social enterprise in summary

"A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners. Social Enterprise Action Plan 2006

So, why could you run a social enterprise and why should other people do business with you?

Session overview
09.30 10.00 10.00 10.15 10.15 10.30 10.30 11.40 11.40 12.10 12.10 12.30 Introduction to Social Enterprise Ideas for solutions to social/ environmental problems Promote ideas & group formation Develop your idea & prepare poster Poster session & seek support Debrief

Things you need to think about

Is it clear what the idea is? What would generate income? Who would be the beneficiary of the enterprise? Are the any relevant numbers? Do they make sense? Which (research?) skills are being used?

"The problem in my life and other people's lives is not the absence of knowing what to do, but the absence of doing it."
Peter Drucker

Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people
W B Yeats

If we were to ask
What are the attributes that would be valuable to successful social enterprises and/or social entrepreneurs?

 Achievement Orientation Initiative Customer/Client service orientation Impact & influence Relationship Building Team Leadership

Teamwork & Cooperation Analytical Thinking Self confidence Flexibility Perseverance