Yunus Video from AshokaDVD

Check out Ashoka's terrific video library.

http://www.youtube.com/user/AshokaDVD

Here is a video from Dr. Yunus defining limitations of current system for starting social business and pointing out current lack of institutions that support social biz development.



It is a general description of the current challenging environment for starting Social Business Enterprise with an inspirational ending, rather than being full of answers and examples. He effectively points out that there is no shortage of entrepreneurial activity around social business, what is lacking is institutional support.

A quote from the video:

"If we're going to run a social businesses enterprise right now we run into alot of problems because we have not set up supportive institutions alongside."

and...
"There will be initial problems, but if it sticks, if it grows, you can create your own world."

Create your own world! love that...
enjoy...
Kala

Over-Socialized: Defining Social Business terms.

This post references core ideas in parsing out the social business terminology milieu. The background is from Dr. Yunus' discussion defining Social Business via this excerpt from the online version of his book.)

The terminology for socially conscious business models is confusing because the ideas are enjoying a wider audience and the specifics of implementing social ventures are in process. One service of the ASBG is to encourage more specificity in the discourse so that terms become distinct, not interchangeable.

This is not just an exercise in semantics; clarity is always helpful in moving ideas forward. Two examples for you:

1. Precise definitions help discourage green-washing and hype. If there is general acceptance of precise definitions of the language of business related social activity - social ventures, social businesss, corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, social-profit companies (see .pdf of Philip and Sandy Berber's ideas), then it encourages those who use such terms to be accountable to what they really mean.
   
   
2. Practically speaking, as social venture funds proliferate and begin to approach investors for funds it will be important for all players to be in agreement as to what terms mean. An investor who is interested in helping a social business grow may not be as interested in a non-profit angle and vice versa.
   

Dr. Yunus provides a framework for this:

Social Entrepreneurship is a broad category that includes social business (as defined below) as well as other social ventures that may or may not be for-profit, or self-sustaining.

According to Dr. Yunus, there are two types of social businesses:

1. Companies that focus on providing social benefit rather than maximizing profit for their owners, and are owned by investors seeking social benefit rather than monetary return. The nature of the product or service of the company creates social benefit.

2. Companies that are owned by poor or disadvantaged. Their goods or services may or may not create direct social benefit.

He also points out that social businesses must work toward and achieve sustainability. One of the most innovative of his proposals (at least for US business) is that social investors would agree to forgo earning monetary interest on their investment in businesses that produce a social profit or benefit. Within the ASBG we wrestle with questions about the practicality in the U.S. of a pure social business model as defined by Dr. Yunus, given our system's rigid bifurcation between for-profit and non-profit business "containers".

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Of course this is all distinct from Social Media, further proof that "social" may be the most overused term on the web right now, even being paired up with "community" for a dose of double exposure. How many online social communities can you name in 5 seconds or less? The latent introvert in me cringes a bit.

Even so, social media has its place in the Social Entrepreneur's toolbox, but I'll let someone else tackle manifesting the good karma and synergy via social media for social business ventures.

OK, if you made it this far and would like more info, here is the background reference from the top of the post - read the excerpt from the online version of his book.

Thanks for all you do-
Kala

Read Dr. Yunus' recent book online!

Oh happy day!

Dr. Yunus' book is online and searchable at Google Books Beta

direct link here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=p_o1sQKssuUC

Austin Social Biz Group: What is it??

Hello and welcome to the Austin Social Business Group Blog!

The Austin Social Business Group is a diverse group of people brought together by a curiosity about "What's Next?" for business’ role in social benefit.

The foundation of our interest lies in Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr.Muhammad Yunus' ideas of social business as detailed in his book "Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism".

Dr. Yunus proposes that traditional definitions of Capitalism are too narrow. To view an individual (in the economic sense) as a being solely focused on profit maximizing ignores other aspects of our humanity: spirituality, emotion; national, community and cultural affiliations.

What is a Social Business?

Social business is a term used in many contexts and is often confused with social entrepreneurship. The two terms are related but are not synonymous. Social businesses are a for-profit subset of social entrepreneurship, as are innovative non-profits that provide a social benefit.

The ASBG adopts Dr. Yunus’ definition of Social Business to provide a common starting place for our discussions:

• Social businesses are for-profit companies that focus on providing social benefit rather than maximizing profit for their owners, and are owned by investors who seek social benefit and forgo monetary dividend in return for social dividends. The nature of the product or service creates social benefit.
  
  or
  

• Social businesses are also for-profit companies owned by poor or may or may not create direct social and build wealth in struggling
  disadvantaged people. Goods or services benefit but the companies create jobs communities.

Much of the ASBG discussions focus on social business funding in the United States as a work in progress, influenced by factors unique to our economy and culture.

Since its inception in the Fall of 2007, the ASBG has met monthly to discuss and create community around Social Business concepts. At a time when large companies are exploring ways to re-invent traditional ideas of corporate social responsibility, our interest focuses on how social investors and small business owners in Austin may influence society and become agents of positive social change in our community.

The interests and enthusiasm of ASBG members determines our activities. We provide an open platform for participation. We also provide encouragement and moral support to our members working on social business projects or considering ways to incorporate social business principles into their work.


The ASGB meets on the 4th Monday of each month, (in November and December the meeting date may change due to the holidays).


If you would like to join our group email list and receive notification of meetings, please email ASBG founder and facilitator Kala Philo, owner of Walkie Talkie Productions LLC, at
kalaphilo@gmail.com.