Thesis Chapters by Eeva Houtbeckers
The overall aim of this study is to increase the understanding of social entrepreneurship by anal... more The overall aim of this study is to increase the understanding of social entrepreneurship by analysing the social entrepreneurship assumptions in academic discourse, which offer a formula for social change, and the mundane practices of microentrepreneurs. This study brings the attention to the taken-for-granted assumptions of social entrepreneurship through studying how it is practiced.
I followed the notion of social entrepreneurship and the work of people who identify themselves or were identified with social entrepreneurship by others in Finland. Theoretically, I asked how a practice perspective informs the study of social entrepreneurship. Empirically, I asked how microentrepreneurs identifying themselves or identified with social entrepreneurship cope with and solve mundane work related challenges over time. For answering the questions, I first reviewed social entrepreneurship, critical entrepreneurship and practice-based studies. Second, I followed microentrepreneurs' mundane work during 2009-2014. In different essays I focus on the tactics for influencing existing practices (Paper 1), creating social innovation over time in networks of practice (Paper 2), and sustaining 'buzz', a sense of belonging in one social enterprise (Paper 3).
By adopting a practice perspective to social entrepreneurship, research on social entrepreneurship can be more aware of perspectives related to the dichotomies often attached to the phenomenon, for example conventional vs. social entrepreneurship. Understanding that the world consists of practices offers ways to do research when such categorisations are used and problematise them. In general terms, social entrepreneurship can be understood as a texture of practices dependent on the context and subject position. Thus, social entrepreneurs cannot achieve their mission alone without being part of the texture of practices. Although it is hoped that social entrepreneurship as a phenomenon is able to address the contemporary challenges and solve wicked problems, the phenomenon as a construct is part of the very world it is supposed to be changing.
This study finds that although the microentrepreneurs studied tried to influence some existing practices and act upon their concerns, they were limited in their power to affect wide-ranging processes. Yet, social entrepreneurship as a popular concept can be a rational and socially acceptable way to disguise radical social change aims and provide space to experiment with marginal ideas that may challenge the existing ways of doing things.
Papers by Eeva Houtbeckers
The urban book series, Dec 31, 2022
Springer eBooks, Dec 31, 2022
M@n@gement, Sep 1, 2019
Research in management and organization can only gain by being inspired from arts, culture and hu... more Research in management and organization can only gain by being inspired from arts, culture and humanities in order to rethink practices but also to nourish its own perspectives. Life in organizations is artificially separate from ordinary life: all mundane objects are thus conducive to astonishment, inspiration, and even problematization. The unplugged subsection "voices" gives the opportunity to academics and non-academics to deliver an interpretation of an object from the cultural or artistic world. Interpreted objects mayor may not be directly related to organizational life, and may or may not resonate with the moment, but share some intriguing features. These interpretations suggest a patchwork of variations on the same object.
Työelämän tutkimus, Mar 12, 2021
Alue ja ympäristö, 2016
The overall aim of this study is to increase the understanding of social entrepreneurship by anal... more The overall aim of this study is to increase the understanding of social entrepreneurship by analysing the social entrepreneurship assumptions in academic discourse, which offer a formula for social change, and the mundane practices of microentrepreneurs. This study brings the attention to the taken-for-granted assumptions of social entrepreneurship through studying how it is practiced. I followed the notion of social entrepreneurship and the work of people who identify themselves or were identified with social entrepreneurship by others in Finland. Theoretically, I asked how a practice perspective informs the study of social entrepreneurship. Empirically, I asked how microentrepreneurs identifying themselves or identified with social entrepreneurship cope with and solve mundane work related challenges over time. For answering the questions, I first reviewed social entrepreneurship, critical entrepreneurship and practice-based studies. Second, I followed microentrepreneurs' mundane work during 2009-2014. In different essays I focus on the tactics for influencing existing practices (Paper 1), creating social innovation over time in networks of practice (Paper 2), and sustaining 'buzz', a sense of belonging in one social enterprise (Paper 3). By adopting a practice perspective to social entrepreneurship, research on social entrepreneurship can be more aware of perspectives related to the dichotomies often attached to the phenomenon, for example conventional vs. social entrepreneurship. Understanding that the world consists of practices offers ways to do research when such categorisations are used and problematise them. In general terms, social entrepreneurship can be understood as a texture of practices dependent on the context and subject position. Thus, social entrepreneurs cannot achieve their mission alone without being part of the texture of practices. Although it is hoped that social entrepreneurship as a phenomenon is able to address the contemporary challenges and solve wicked problems, the phenomenon as a construct is part of the very world it is supposed to be changing. This study finds that although the microentrepreneurs studied tried to influence some existing practices and act upon their concerns, they were limited in their power to affect wideranging processes. Yet, social entrepreneurship as a popular concept can be a rational and socially acceptable way to disguise radical social change aims and provide space to experiment with marginal ideas that may challenge the existing ways of doing things.
Design for sustainability transitions is an emerging area of research and practice which integrat... more Design for sustainability transitions is an emerging area of research and practice which integrates and expands theories of sustainability science, design and transition management. Recently sustainability transitions have been framed as design challenges with three main dimensions: creative, technical and political (Gaziulusoy & Ryan, 2017). With references to the multi-level perspective of system innovations, design for sustainability transitions investigates the niche socio-cultural practices and technologies to develop and analyse design scenarios for alternative futures using participatory approaches. Degrowth as a civic movement that challenges the continuous economic growth as a policy making goal, converges design for sustainability transitions in its holistic understanding of a need for systemic change. Yet, recent discussions in degrowth have called for a deeper understanding of actors that would carry out such transitions. This includes taking into consideration questions of power, gender, class, ethnicity and inter-species interactions, which are at times overlooked in analyses. It is our position that there is a need for expansion, diversification and deepening of theoretical groundings of design for sustainability transitions as well. In this article we provide a short history of this research and practice area, frame a theoretical perspective on degrowth integrating the implications of current relevant questions, integrate this theoretical perspective with design for sustainability transitions theories, and discuss implications for design and policy practice as well as degrowth research.
Social Enterprise Journal, May 2, 2017
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss researcher subjectivity in social entrepreneurshi... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss researcher subjectivity in social entrepreneurship ethnographies. Previous research has highlighted a need for alternatives to the heroic representations of social entrepreneurship. Ethnographic methods have been mentioned as a relevant direction to create such emerging understandings. Design/methodology/approach This paper shows what followed from a decision of a researcher to do an ethnography of a co-working cooperative established for social innovation. Based on the notion of “working the hyphens” in previous research, further developed by other scholars as “working within hyphen-spaces”, the position of the researcher shifted during the research process between a distant outsider and an engaged insider. In addition, a new hyphen-space of hopefulness – hopelessness emerged based on fieldwork. Findings The shifting positions are manifested in the entanglement of stories of the researcher and the people met during the fieldwork in the hyphen-spaces of insiderness – outsiderness, engagement – distance and hopefulness – hopelessness. The stories reveal how for some the co-working space was a place for hope while for others it caused distress and even burnout. Practical/implications The ethnographic understanding of social enterprises go beyond heroic representations, which affects how the phenomenon is represented in academic and public discussions. Social/implications This study concludes that despite its failure in the form of a bankruptcy, the co-working cooperative succeeded in enabling “social innovation” in the form of hope and personal development – also for the researcher. Originality/value This study contributes to the social entrepreneurship literature in showing how ethnographic fieldwork and acknowledging researcher subjectivity bring up alternative representations of social entrepreneurship. The entangled stories of participants and researchers can be a powerful way to reveal situated understandings.
Poliittinen talous, Dec 20, 2022
Alue ja ympäristö, Dec 29, 2022
Nordic Design Research Conference, Jun 3, 2019
The starting point of this paper is a recognition of the need for transitions to sustainability. ... more The starting point of this paper is a recognition of the need for transitions to sustainability. This exploratory paper is a stepping stone for development of a theoretical framework for ways of imagining and acting upon ecofeminist degrowth futures based on design for sustainability transitions (DFST). The aim of the framework is to conceptualise the role paid and un(der)paid work in and for such transitions. In this paper, we bring together previous research of design for sustainability DFST, degrowth, and ecofeminist understandings of care as gendered work. With references to the multi-level perspective of system innovations, DFST investigates the niche socio-cultural practices and technologies to develop and analyse design scenarios for alternative futures using participatory approaches. Degrowth as a civic movement that challenges the continuous economic growth as a policy making goal, converges with DFST in its holistic understanding of a need for systemic change. Recent discussions in degrowth have called for taking into consideration questions of care, power, gender, class, ethnicity and inter-species interactions, which are at times overlooked in analyses. In order to do so, we draw upon ecofeminist philosophy, which highlights how the (mis)treatment of women is attached to the (mis)treatment of non-human/more-than-human nature.
Research in management and organization can only gain by being inspired from arts, culture and hu... more Research in management and organization can only gain by being inspired from arts, culture and humanities in order to rethink practices but also to nourish its own perspectives. Life in organizations is artificially separate from ordinary life: all mundane objects are thus conducive to astonishment, inspiration, and even problematization. The unplugged subsection "voices" gives the opportunity to academics and non-academics to deliver an interpretation of an object from the cultural or artistic world. Interpreted objects mayor may not be directly related to organizational life, and may or may not resonate with the moment, but share some intriguing features. These interpretations suggest a patchwork of variations on the same object.
Nordia geographical publications, 2018
This short essay is based on ongoing ethnographic fieldwork that focuses on post-growth work in t... more This short essay is based on ongoing ethnographic fieldwork that focuses on post-growth work in the global North. Some of the people I have met during my fieldwork are in the process of altering their life according to their understanding of more affirmative ways of living. Here the focus is on households that strive for self-sufficiency in terms of food. However, in order to cultivate land, one needs to access it. This essay focuses on describing self-sufficiency households' everyday needs for private land ownership and its implications for the households. It seems to be hard to completely rid oneself of owning land because of the institutional arrangements beyond one's immediate influence. For discussions concerning transitions toward more sustainable societies, projects exploring other ways of organising land ownership are important.
Management-Revue, 2018
Organising for post-growth society is called for to enable living on our finite planet. While pre... more Organising for post-growth society is called for to enable living on our finite planet. While previous research has suggested that social enterprise could be one form of post-growth organising (PGo), these suggestions might not rely on critical studies of social enterprise (SE) or studies exploring everyday practices of SE. This paper asks to what extent can SE practices be considered to be post-growth organising and examines two empirical examples of self-employment identified as SE and sensitive to the elements attached to PGo. They functioned to develop more sustainable solutions in the field of coworking for social innovation and up-cycling used clothing. The analysis of actors' everyday 'sayings' and 'doings' reveals how SE is used to channel social and environmental concerns in working life. Moreover, self-employment was not enough to constantly provide a living wage, but actors sustained themselves by navigating the diverse economy. Subsequently, they had to relate to the economic growth imperative at an organisational level. By making visible the ambivalence of the notion 'social enterprise', this study encourages the conducting of research that focuses on the everyday practices perceived as PGo.
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Thesis Chapters by Eeva Houtbeckers
I followed the notion of social entrepreneurship and the work of people who identify themselves or were identified with social entrepreneurship by others in Finland. Theoretically, I asked how a practice perspective informs the study of social entrepreneurship. Empirically, I asked how microentrepreneurs identifying themselves or identified with social entrepreneurship cope with and solve mundane work related challenges over time. For answering the questions, I first reviewed social entrepreneurship, critical entrepreneurship and practice-based studies. Second, I followed microentrepreneurs' mundane work during 2009-2014. In different essays I focus on the tactics for influencing existing practices (Paper 1), creating social innovation over time in networks of practice (Paper 2), and sustaining 'buzz', a sense of belonging in one social enterprise (Paper 3).
By adopting a practice perspective to social entrepreneurship, research on social entrepreneurship can be more aware of perspectives related to the dichotomies often attached to the phenomenon, for example conventional vs. social entrepreneurship. Understanding that the world consists of practices offers ways to do research when such categorisations are used and problematise them. In general terms, social entrepreneurship can be understood as a texture of practices dependent on the context and subject position. Thus, social entrepreneurs cannot achieve their mission alone without being part of the texture of practices. Although it is hoped that social entrepreneurship as a phenomenon is able to address the contemporary challenges and solve wicked problems, the phenomenon as a construct is part of the very world it is supposed to be changing.
This study finds that although the microentrepreneurs studied tried to influence some existing practices and act upon their concerns, they were limited in their power to affect wide-ranging processes. Yet, social entrepreneurship as a popular concept can be a rational and socially acceptable way to disguise radical social change aims and provide space to experiment with marginal ideas that may challenge the existing ways of doing things.
Papers by Eeva Houtbeckers
I followed the notion of social entrepreneurship and the work of people who identify themselves or were identified with social entrepreneurship by others in Finland. Theoretically, I asked how a practice perspective informs the study of social entrepreneurship. Empirically, I asked how microentrepreneurs identifying themselves or identified with social entrepreneurship cope with and solve mundane work related challenges over time. For answering the questions, I first reviewed social entrepreneurship, critical entrepreneurship and practice-based studies. Second, I followed microentrepreneurs' mundane work during 2009-2014. In different essays I focus on the tactics for influencing existing practices (Paper 1), creating social innovation over time in networks of practice (Paper 2), and sustaining 'buzz', a sense of belonging in one social enterprise (Paper 3).
By adopting a practice perspective to social entrepreneurship, research on social entrepreneurship can be more aware of perspectives related to the dichotomies often attached to the phenomenon, for example conventional vs. social entrepreneurship. Understanding that the world consists of practices offers ways to do research when such categorisations are used and problematise them. In general terms, social entrepreneurship can be understood as a texture of practices dependent on the context and subject position. Thus, social entrepreneurs cannot achieve their mission alone without being part of the texture of practices. Although it is hoped that social entrepreneurship as a phenomenon is able to address the contemporary challenges and solve wicked problems, the phenomenon as a construct is part of the very world it is supposed to be changing.
This study finds that although the microentrepreneurs studied tried to influence some existing practices and act upon their concerns, they were limited in their power to affect wide-ranging processes. Yet, social entrepreneurship as a popular concept can be a rational and socially acceptable way to disguise radical social change aims and provide space to experiment with marginal ideas that may challenge the existing ways of doing things.