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Synopsis

About the Reading Group

The fields of Social Enterprise, Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation have attracted a lot of attention and investment across different academic disciplines and practice arenas. The conceptual thread that unites the three is the process and practice of using entrepreneurial skills to confront major social and community development issues around the world. However, a key point of the contemporary debate in this area is whether the discourse on social entrepreneurship should be focused on the enterprise or on equality! This reading group aims to explore this debate by understanding the concepts: What is a social enterprise? What are the processes and practices of a social entrepreneur? What are the emerging tools of social innovation? By bringing together scholarship from different disciplines (Business, Medicine, Communications, Education, Human Development and Social Work) with diverse perspectives on these topics, the group will understand the challenges of addressing social and environmental problems and critically evaluate the effectiveness of social entrepreneurship in crafting solutions.

Learning Outcomes

TopIntended Learning Outcomes:

Understand the discourses related to the concepts and issues around the topic;
Analyse critically and creatively formulate questions on the new knowledge gained;
Collaborate with others from diverse backgrounds in forming logical arguments and conveying them coherently;
Reflect on own learning.

Teaching Modes

TopProject Structure:
The primary structure of the reading group will be weekly meetings of the members to discuss selected readings on a chosen topic related to the theme. Members will be required to come prepared with the readings to raise questions and participate in the group discussion. Further, experiential learning opportunities will be created for student participants by visiting an actual social enterprise in practice within Singapore. This will help them not only to enrich their understanding of these concepts but also critically examine the concepts and issues discussed in the group.

Schedule

TopMeeting and Discussion (tentative) Schedule:

Day/Time	Discussion Topic	Readings
7^th February	Introduction Discussing about the structure of the reading group; expectations from student participants. Discussing social enterprise site visits What is discourse? Where is social in entrepreneurship? Is there a duality in enterprise/equality?	The New Elite’s Phoney Crusade to Save the World – without changing anything https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/22/the-new-elites-phoney-crusade-to-save-the-world-without-changing-anything (Assigned before the start of the sessions) Ministry of Social and Family Development (2010). “Getting to the heeart of business” Optional Reading: Hulgard, L. (2010). Discourses of Social Entrepreneurship - Variations of the same theme? EMES European Research Network.
14^th February	What is a Social Entrepreneurship/Service/Activism? Case for definition Historical and Current Standards The social enterprise concepts and issues in contemporary Singapore society. Unpacking the myths and definitions of Social Enterprise, Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation	Prakash, R. & Tan, P. (2014). Landscape of social enterprises in Singapore. Social Entrepreneurship in Asia: Working Paper No. 1. Optional Reading: legaleSE: A legal handbook for social enterprises. A Law Society of Singapore Publication
21^st February	Micro Finance - the classic example of social innovation and enterprise. But who is the social entrepreneur?	Kabeer, N. (2005). Is microfinance a ‘magic bullet’ for women’s empowerment? Analysis of findings from South Asia. Economic and Political Weekly, October 29. Optional Reading: Morduch, J. (1999) The microfinance promise. Journal of Economic LIterature, 37(4), p. 1569-1614.
28th February @ 10 am	Visiting Foreword Coffee	Good businesses: Meet the entrepreneurs who want to make Singapore a better place. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/good-businesses-meet-the-entrepreneurs-who-want-to-make-9513238 Foreword Coffee was told that they would fail. Today, they've opened their 2nd outlet at Novena. https://mothership.sg/2018/11/foreword-coffee-was-told-they-would-fail-today-theyve-opened-their-2nd-outlet-at-novena/
114th March	Exploring different stories of entrepreneurs. Is there unity in the diversity?	Case Studies: Student presentations Story 1 Gidget Hopf: An Intrapreneur and Social Activist in the Non-profit World Story 2 Ron Dow: An Entrepreneur in the Library Story 3 Mary Rapp: An Entrepreneurial Instructional Leader Story 4 Ralph Spezio: An Entrepreneurial Principal Story 5 Lynn Gatto: An Entrepreneurial Teacher Story 6 Jeroo BiIlimoria: Child Protection Story 7 Social Entrepreneurship in China https://www.bbc.com/news/business-19652712 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-09/20/content_15769587.htm https://www.pyxeraglobal.org/rise-social-entrepreneurship-china/
21st March	Effective social change – entrepreneurship or activism? "The Case of Singapore's cooked food hawking and its management"	Henderson, J. C. (2016). Foodservice in Singapore: Reatining a place for hawkers? Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 19(3), p. p. 272-286. DOI: 10.1080/15378020.2016.1175900. AND at least one of the news articles below: Social Enterprise Hawker Centre: Are the Unfair Terms Justified? [https://singaporelegaladvice.com/social-enterprise-hawker-centre-unfair-terms-justified/] More hawker centres to be run by social enterprises [https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-hawker-centres-to-be-run-by-social-enterprises] End "Social Enterprise Hawker Centers" NOW! [https://www.petitions.net/end_social_enterprise_hawker_centers_now] Optional Reading: Dees, J. G. and Anderson, B. B. 2006. Framing a theory of social entrepreneurship: building on two schools of practice and thought. Research on social entrepreneurship, ARNOVA occasional paper series, 1(3): 39–66.
4th April	Reflection time: Bringing the concepts together	Optional Reading: Sandel, M. J. (1998). What money can't buy: The moral limits of markets. The Tanner Lectures on Human Values

Assessment

TopParticipation Requirements for Student Participants:

Attend all [7 meetings including a field trip] reading group meetings and participate actively:
- Reading group meetings will be held [weekly] over the semester [07 Feb 2019 to 04 Apr 2019]).
- Pre-reading assignments will be provided to supplement the learning.
- There will be a field trip during recess week.
Read all the assigned reading(s) and come to the meeting prepared to raise questions/discuss the concepts and issues being addressed in the readings. Any contribution is acceptable as long as it shows that the student is earnestly engaging with the readings, and equally importantly, that he/she is willing to give due consideration to viewpoints that are different from his/her own.
You are expected to post significant questions/critical commentary/reflective journaling for discussion from the assigned reading by 9 am of the meeting day. You might want to focus on the following: (1) key concepts or issues that are of particular interest to your understanding of the readings and a rationale for the significance of these issues; (2) address the questions: What did I learn about social entrepreneurship from these readings, and what did I learn about the concepts of equality and enterprise from the readings? Including personal experiences and circumstances that address the reading are strongly encouraged. These questions/commentaries/reflections are intended to help you to keep up with our common reading and to prepare you for the class discussion. NOTE: required for 3 sessions.
Critically analyse and present “the story of a social entrepreneur/social enterprise”. This will be a collaborative exercise.
Final reflective paper (no less than 500 words): reflective systematic journaling/critical commentary addressing the following: (1) key concepts/issues on social entrepreneurship learnt that were of particular interest to you and a rationale for the significance of those; (2) how have your thoughts on equality and enterprise shaped from these readings, discussions and social enterprise site visits? Including personal experiences and circumstances that address the reading(s) and site visit(s) are strongly encouraged. The deadline for the submission of the final reflective essay will be the end of the Reading Week (28 April 11:59 p.m.).