How innovation and scaling create impacts in social enterprises: Insights from Nepal

Abstract

The study's purpose is to examine how social enterprises in Nepal manage social innovation and scaling to create impacts for the beneficiaries. In doing so, the empirical research has applied a qualitative case study approach based on Bihani Social Venture which provides services to the ageing population over the age of 50, but not exclusively. The triangulation approach of data collection is used in this study, with semi-structured interviews conducted on the Zoom individually and the analysis of documents related to the case. Five employees are selected as participants from a snow-ball technique and four documents chosen purposively as per the research’s goal, from the case’s webpage after a careful review. Then, the six findings from the interviews are cross-referenced with data from document analysis generated with the help of the NVivo software to arrive at a conclusion to increase the truthfulness of the study. Based on the findings, Bihani Social Venture has handled and promoted both innovation and scaling to achieve higher and better impacts for the ageing people through the effective programs, innovative interventions, and resource management. The study has used the institutional perspective especially the institutional entrepreneurship to discuss the data so as to answer the research question. Furthermore, six themes have been developed from the findings for interpretations in discussion chapter which are based on the agentic capabilities and resource mobilization and institutional supports to manage innovation and scaling. The study concludes that Bihani Venture has managed both social innovation and scaling through its innovative programs and strategies designed to create positive impacts of ageing population. Finally, the findings have implications for social organizations operating within institutional environments which have a desire to better impact more people by integrating innovation and scaling strategies.