Social Entrepreneurship –2021-22

Basic Information
Batch All Long duration programs – PGP< EPGP< PGPEM, PGPPM and FPM
Term/Quarter PGP Term V/PGSEM Quarter II
Credits 3

Instructor Trilochan Sastry [TS] Extn 3285 trilochan@iimb.ac.in, E Block 1st Floor

Introduction

This course has run since 2003 but has undergone changes over the years. This year, due to
two years of lockdown some changes have been made in the course as much of it may have to
be done online..

One major change this year was triggered by the Corona Virus 19-20 Pandemic. Some did a
lot of work during the lockdown both online and in the field. So we will discuss the
implications of a societal crises, how do we look at it, who are all affected, and what we can
do to address the various issues.

The social enterprise landscape is changing rapidly. New organizations, new forms of
investment and grant making are coming up. Many professionals are also joining this sector,
some at a young age. These developments will also be discussed.

Objective
You do not need to read the Human Development Index to recognize that the bulk of the
society around us needs further development. The fact that the sizeable minority to which
you and we belong has economically done well provides some hope but the resulting inequality
and inequity still exists.

Social entrepreneurs can make a significant difference to society. Those who have had the
opportunity to work in mainstream business find much of their knowledge and wisdom
transferable. The course is intended for people who are concerned about the state of
society around us and who wish to make a difference either immediately after graduation,
or while working in regular jobs, or perhaps after working for several years.

There are several outstanding examples of such social entrepreneurs in the country. Some
have made enormous personal sacrifices. At the other extreme, some viewed themselves as
professionals who wished to make a positive impact. The latter category has also had
successful careers. In today’s context, several factors make it easier for social
entrepreneurs to flourish. First, funds are available. There are new ideas like impact
investing that are trying to bring about significant change. Second, the level of awareness
of important issues, especially amongst the disadvantaged is much higher today than it was
a couple of decades ago. Third, there is a general recognition that there is a need for new

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and innovative interventions since several past efforts have not always had the desired
impact. This makes funding agencies and regulatory agencies, including the government more
open to new ideas.

The core management courses that you have taken would have provided you with a very
strong foundation for managing 'corporates.' Many of the concepts possibly apply in the
focus area of this course. At the same time, some new concepts would also be relevant.

This course will largely focus on what individual social entrepreneurs and civil society can do.
It will not focus on what the Government or the Corporate sector can or should do. The
course will also focus on large scale impact on poverty and significant improvement in
development.

Evaluation (subject to minor changes)

Component Weight
Assignments 15%
Mid-term 40%
Case-writing/Project 45%

Participants in groups of up to four, are expected to write a case or a project report on an

Attendance
While we will follow the Institute’s policy on attendance, there are some requirements.
Attendance for the guest speakers is compulsory. Some of our guest speakers may not
be able to do webinars if they are located in remote rural areas with limited access.
In that case we may get other speakers or do recordings.

It is expected that you read the relevant reading material in advance and come
prepared for the class.

Reading Materials
Only those reading materials for which soft copies are not available will be distributed. The
rest will be sent to the class as soft copies.

There is one set of readings that form a background to most of the lectures. This is
entitled ‘Development tales”. These are two page write ups on the current rural
situation. This will give you a better feel for the class discussions

Reference Material:
1. Development as freedom, Amartya Sen

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2. The Nature of Mass Poverty, J.K. Galbraith
3. Everybody Loves a Good Drought, P. Sainath
4. My India, Jim Corbett
5. I had a Dream by Rashmi Bansal

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 Material and Preparation – Schedule Pre Mid term
Topic Preparation
1 Why we need social (i)Beyond Selfishness: Mintzberg, Simons and Basu, MIT Sloan
entrepreneurs: Management Review (soft copy)
Context and Philosophy (ii) How Poverty is now explained, Chapter 1 of "The Nature of
Mass Poverty" by J.K. Galbraith
Data on Development Indicators for India and the world
2 Organizations forms and Charity to empowerment: forms suitable for each
governance Nonprofit firms from The ownership of enterprise: Chapter 12
[Hansmann]
Development Tales (soft copy)
3 Alternate Business Overview, AMUL and the Anand pattern
Models: Cooperatives 1
4 Alternate Business Promoting Cooperatives in drought prone regions
Models: Coop 2
5 Alternate Business Design of Cooperatives and Producer Organization Stages
Models: Coop 3
6 Alternate Context: Implications for health and health care, economy, and different
Societal Crises and sections of society. What can we do?
Pandemics
7 Alternate context and Continue previous class discussions. Also basic features of
Peoples Movements: Social Movements
8 Peoples Movements - Why do some activism initiatives succeed, and some fail?
II: what do they
- - India Against Corruption, NBA, MKSS
achieve?
- - Left wing extremism
9 Alternate Business - Comparing different forms: for profit, social Enterprises,
Models NGOs, Coops, Unions. Which is best suited for what?
10 Guest lecture - Your submission on reflections due on following Monday

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11 Electoral and - Role of citizens, Courts, media, political parties.
- Why should citizens be concerned about it? What types of
Political Reforms
Social Enterprises can work on this issue?
12 Electoral and - Case Study of ADR and other civil society organizations
Political Reforms
13 Guest Lecture: People - Two page write up due next class
Based Social -
Entrepreneurship
14 Large Scale Government - Large Scale programs in India: their genesis, scaling up and
Programs Impact
15 Perspectives on - - Civil Society Consultations: Views from different
Development stakeholders
- Why are these perspectives important?
16 Leadership in the Social - What is leadership in this sector? Is it really different?
Sector
17 Leadership in the Social - Short case studies of 6 Outstanding leaders
Sector
18 Conclusions: Scaling Up - - Key Principles
and replication - - Starting Up in High Gear
19 Project Presentation - To be made by student groups of 4
20 Project Presentation - Continued: Student project presentations