June 17, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
For social enterprises to achieve substantial results, they must “overcome some structural challenges,” writes Chip Feiss, a senior fellow at the Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, in Cambridge, Mass.
The term “social enterprise” has many definitions, social-enterprise efforts are often fragmented, and they are small in size, he writes in an opinion article in The Financial Times.
Despite this, Mr. Feiss, who defines social enterprise as a business with a charitable mission, could develop into an important “fourth sector” distinct from traditional for-profit companies, government, and nonprofit groups.
“Social enterprise is not meant to replace the other sectors but is another way of dealing with common social problems that have not been successfully addressed to date,” he writes. “Is it possible? When history collides with motivation and opportunity, anything is possible.”
What do you think? What are the obstacles facing social enterprise? Click on the comment button below to share your views.
