Social entrepreneurship for sustainable value co-creation: Building sustainable futures

Abstract

Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a critical mechanism for addressing complex societal challenges by balancing social and financial objectives and engaging diverse stakeholders in the co-creation of sustainable value. However, efforts to co-create value are not without risk. Social entrepreneurs frequently encounter tensions arising from opportunism, misaligned goals, lack of trust and unclear stakeholder expectations, which may undermine collaboration and lead to value diminishment or co-destruction. This Special Issue advances understanding of these challenges by examining how social entrepreneurs and social enterprises adopt, adapt and innovate value co-creation strategies to enhance stakeholder engagement and pursue long-term sustainability. Specifically, the Special Issue seeks to (a) explore mechanisms through which value co-creation can be effectively leveraged to support social and environmental outcomes, and (b) investigate strategies that mitigate the risks of value co-destruction. Collectively, the contributions provide theoretical and practical insights into how social enterprises sustain value across complex stakeholder ecosystems.