Durham University Business School, United Kingdom

Learning to be Accountable in Social Entrepreneurship

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ABSTRACT

This study explores how social entrepreneurs develop self-directed accountability in contexts lacking formal oversight, adding knowledge on micro-level accountability. Drawing Schön’s theory of the reflective professional, we based our study in Chile, which has a thriving social sector yet to formalise accountability mechanisms. We worked with 15 social entrepreneurs and used life-story interviews and mapping to explore learning to be accountable. We found that social entrepreneurs reflected on venture-related artefacts to assess their ventures. Reflecting on artefacts triggers two primary assessments: confirming or disconfirming how the venture works. Disconfirming assessments lead to three levels of change: improving processes, realigning models, and transforming assumptions guiding the venture. We show how social entrepreneurs use artefacts as reflective learning tools to develop accountability for their social ventures. These findings contribute to understanding how self-directed accountability develops in social entrepreneurship, offering insights into informal learning processes that may precede and complement formal accountability mechanisms. 

BIOGRAPHY

Marieshka is a 4th-year PhD candidate at Durham University Business School, UK, with a research focus on the intersection of entrepreneurship, social transformation, and sustainability. Her work investigates how entrepreneurial practices can create more harmonious relationships with individuals, communities, and the environment. Central to her doctoral research is the exploration of social entrepreneurs’ journeys toward becoming accountable to missions of social change. She employs interpretive and participatory action research (PAR) methods, collaborating closely with social entrepreneurs to co-create knowledge that deepens our understanding of social accountability. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates key themes of social entrepreneurship, ethics, and sustainability, offering a unique perspective on how these concepts can be operationalized in practice. By engaging directly with practitioners, she aims to generate actionable insights that address pressing social and environmental challenges. Barton’s research contributes to the broader discourse on how entrepreneurship can be a catalyst for sustainable development and positive societal impact.