4.0

In 2016, a research project was initiated in the Netherlands by academics from Nyenrode Business University and experienced business professionals from PwC NL with the objective to identify a link between stakeholder engagement and the success of social enterprises. Accordingly, a survey was sent to 390 social entrepreneurs in the Netherlands and responses were received from 52 social enterprises. As part of the survey, a special questionnaire was developed to collect empirical data regarding the extent of participation and the involvement of stakeholders in the decision-making processes of Dutch social enterprises. The questionnaire comprised Likert-type 1-6 scale questions followed by open-ended questions. A research note is developed in this article to discuss, justify and report the outcome of the data collection and data analysis. In the research note, theoretical arguments concerning the concept of stakeholder participation in the governance of social enterprises are provided and discussed. An explanation concerning the respondents involved in the research project and the methods employed for the collection and the analysis of data is also demonstrated. Finally, selected findings are presented as well as the author’s personal reflections on the research outcome.

Social enterprise, Netherlands, Stakeholder Participation, Governance, Stakeholders, Survey