When I first learnt about shared value and social entrepreneur in Comm101, I was very suspicious of the this concept’s feasibility. Business entrepreneurs’ behaviors are based on self-interest principle and always enlarge the gap between the rich and the poor, which is completely conflict with shared value and social benefit. However, after several research I found that the concept is different from what I thought.

Social entrepreneur’s business differs from tradition charity such as social welfare, voluntary works and public services. It is more like public-private partnerships which is trying to transform the way public services are offer, by using advanced technology or creative ideas in the private sector, in order to make win-win situations.

For instance, in the Comm101’s case study, the Ethiopian banana paper company is a good example of a enterprise both makes profits and helps the public. In Ethiopian, the technology level is low and high-quality printed papers are expensive. The banana paper is not only a cheap substitute of printer papers, but also very environmental-friendly. The business can both benefit Ethiopian people and the company itself.

Pic: http://www.pennsem.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/social-entrepreneur-word-cloud-1.jpeg

Reference:http://www.economist.com/node/16789766

Pic: http://www.pennsem.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/social-entrepreneur-word-cloud-1.jpeg