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Gram Vikas: What is the Essence of Social Entrepreneurship?

Published 28 Jan 2013
Reference 5633
Region Asia
Length 22 page(s)
Summary

The case focuses on Gram Vikas, an organisation that develops comprehensive water and sanitation systems in rural villages in India. It describes the story and development of Gram Vikas, and focuses on the challenges of scaling up social innovations by transferring them to other organisations, a common challenge in any innovation process.

Teaching objectives

The case conveys the central elements of the very distinct management approach of the Indian social entrepreneur, based on the notions of empowerment of the beneficiaries and sustainability of the solutions provided. The case thus allows students to understand the essence of social entrepreneurship and its distinctiveness when compared to commercial entrepreneurship or charity work.

Keywords
  • social entrepreneurship
  • social innovation
  • replication
  • strategies for social sector organizations
  • business model innovation
  • empowerment
  • rural development
  • Q21213