The following questions are all based on the above Fairphone article/case. Basing your arguments on the topics that you have studied in the first five weeks of this unit, write a report addressing the following two questions:
a) Entrepreneurs and by extension, the firms they run have been identified as having certain traits and characteristics. Some of these traits are evident in the case of Fairphone, and how they go about developing and implementing their business model. Discuss the extent to which Fairphone exemplifies these entrepreneurial traits and characteristics. Justify your response with reference to academic sources (e.g. academic journal articles, textbooks, etc.).
b) The article clearly outlines what we might consider ‘social entrepreneurship’, whereby an entrepreneur establishes and/or leads an organisation or initiative engaged in social change. But launching and running a social enterprise is not without its challenges. Describe at least three major boundaries or challenges involved in running a social enterprise. Again, you should be looking to use academic sources as the foundation of your review. Wikipedia or web blogs are not considered as ‘sound’ academic sources.
Write up your analysis. This should be in a report format. Here is a suggested structure:
a. Executive Summary
b. Introduction
c. Analysis of Entrepreneur traits/characteristics (ie. linking them Fairphone)
d. Major Boundaries or Challenges in Social Entrepreneurship
e. Conclusion
f. References
g. Appendix (if required)