Development of a tool to measure social entrepreneurial orientation

Abstract

Purpose

Social entrepreneurial orientation (SEO) is an evolving concept. Though adequate literature has been accumulated about the concept, there is a lack of appropriate tool to measure individual SEO. The tools presently available mostly measure organizational SEO. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a tool to measure the concept of individual SEO.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the study was collected using a questionnaire, from 342 randomly collected samples. Various time-tested methods and statistical techniques, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, were used to scientifically construct and validate the scale.

Findings

In tune with the purpose of this study, a 4-factor, 13-item SEO scale has been developed and scientifically validated through various acceptable and proven techniques. The developed tool is ideal to measure the orientation toward social entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

A review of literature revealed that there is paucity of a scientific tool to measure individual SEO. The study has succeeded in bridging this gap by constructing and validating a scale to measure SEO. This tool, it is expected, will help social scientists, academicians and researchers in conducting empirical examinations about SEO.

Citation

Sulphey, M.M. and Salim, A. (2021), "Development of a tool to measure social entrepreneurial orientation", Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 231-253. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-07-2019-0099