Navigating Tensions in Social Enterprises: A Comprehensive Review of the Role of Stakeholder Engagement

Abstract

Social enterprises tackle social or environmental issues via market mechanisms, facing tensions from conflicting stakeholder demands. Our argument is that entrepreneurial success hinges on navigating these tensions, through fostering stakeholder relationships. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic literature review, following the PRISMA protocol, to understand how stakeholder engagement can help entrepreneurs navigate tensions in social enterprises. We contribute to stakeholder engagement and social entrepreneurship literature by delineating stakeholder-tension relationships, explaining how stakeholder demands trigger tensions, and proposing a conceptual model to guide social enterprises navigate tensions through fostering effective stakeholder relationships.

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