Article
California Management Review

How Social Entrepreneurs Zig-Zag Their Way to Impact at Scale

Format:Print

Abstract

This article provides guidance to social entrepreneurs and their funders as they seek to advance the enterprise from startup to scale. It focuses on the evolution of four social entrepreneurs and their decision-making paths as they attempt to scale their respective organizations. It then develops a framework to understand how social entrepreneurs alternate between pursuing activities to increase the scale of their work and delivering social impact in a “zig-zagging” process.

Keywords

Systemic Impact; Scaling; Strategy Process; Nonprofit Organizations; Social Entrepreneurship; Growth and Development Strategy

Citation

Rangan, V. Kasturi, and Tricia Gregg. "How Social Entrepreneurs Zig-Zag Their Way to Impact at Scale." California Management Review 62, no. 1 (November 2019): 53–76.