Social entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and value creation offer innovative, adaptable and scalable strategies to complex social and human problems, according to the editors of the NASW Press book, “Social Work Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, and Social Value Creation: Relevance for Contemporary Social Work Practice.”
Using real-world scenarios, the text demonstrates how social innovation, entrepreneurship, and value chain approaches can shift from a business-only model to the core of social work practice.
The editors are Monica Nandan, PhD, director of Strategic Partnerships and Social Impact and professor of Social Work and Human Services at WellStar College of Health and Human Services; Tricia Bent-Goodley, PhD, professor at Howard University School of Social Work; and Gokul Mandayam, PhD, assistant professor at Rhode Island College School of Social Work.
“Since the three of us had co-authored pioneering manuscripts on this topic within our field, we thought that it was important to publish a book on this topic written by and for social workers,” Nandan said. “Based on our work in the field, we knew that social workers were entrepreneurial, often ‘creating something with nothing’ but were not using the term ‘social entrepreneurship’ as we would often see in business literature.”
Social workers are known for implementing entrepreneurial and innovative thinking, establishing and growing nonprofit organizations, strengthening public service, and developing private practices, the editors point out.
“This book illuminates that perspective and highlights the role of social work entrepreneurship across the globe,” Nandan said.
Professionals within and outside of social work can benefit from the book. The content is not only for macro-level students and professionals but also for micro- and mezzo-level practitioners, she said.