Promoting Social Entrepreneurial Intention in Food Industry: The Roles of Social Capital and Creativity

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Researcher, Department of Social and Economic Research, Ilam Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Ilam, Iran

2 Department of Entrepreneurship and Rural Development, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

3 Department of Management, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

10.22059/ijms.2025.372061.676521

Abstract

Today, food security has become one of the main concerns for key stakeholders, including businesses, governments, and educational institutions. Therefore, identifying the drivers of social responsibility development—such as social entrepreneurship—in the food industry can effectively contribute to achieving sustainable development. However, the entrepreneurship literature in the field of social entrepreneurship development in the food industry is weak, especially in the context of Iran. To fill this gap and assist policymakers, the present study was conducted to investigate the impact of social capital and creativity dimensions on Social Entrepreneurship Intention (SEI) among food industry owners. The statistical population in this study consisted of all food industry entities (n=1208) in Ilam Province (western Iran). The research samples included 415 food industry owners in western Iran, who were selected using a random stratified sampling method with proportional assignment. The findings indicated that the SEI status of the participants was at a moderate level. The modeling results indicated that strong and weak social connections and interactions play a decisive role in the development of SEI. Among the dimensions of creativity, only the originality dimension facilitates the SEI development process, while the usefulness dimension does contribute positively to this process. Therefore, by developing bridging and bonding social capital and promoting the innovative ideas and initiatives of people working in the food industry, we can witness the development of social entrepreneurship and, as a result, achieve sustainable food security in society.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Agarwal, S., Lenka, U., Singh, K., Agrawal, V., & Agrawal, A. M. (2020). A qualitative approach towards crucial factors for sustainable development of women social entrepreneurship: Indian cases. Journal of Cleaner Production, 274, 123135. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123135
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Aliaga-Isla, R., & Huybrechts, B. (2018). From “Push Out” to “Pull In” together: An analysis of social entrepreneurship definitions in the academic field. Journal of Cleaner Production, 205, 645-660. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.133
Alvord, S. H., Brown, L. D. & Letts, C. W. (2004). Social entrepreneurship and societal transformation: An exploratory study. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 40(3), 260–282. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886304266847
Ardichvili, A., Cardozo, R. & Ray, S. (2003). A theory of entrepreneurial opportunity identification and development. Journal of Business Venturing, 18(1), 105–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(01)00068-4
Bacq, S. & Janssen, F. (2011). The multiple faces of social entrepreneurship: A review of definitional issues based on geographical and thematic criteria. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 23(5–6), 373–403. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2011.577242
Badpa, B., Shiri, N. (2022). The effects of financial and investment decision-making components on entrepreneurial intention among Iranian accounting students. Journal of Accounting Knowledge, 13(3),65-88. https://doi.org/10.22103/jak.2021.18257.3578
Bason, C. (2011). Leading public sector innovation: Co-creating for a better society. Policy Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt9qgnsd
Baraderan, M., Monavarifard, F., & Salehi, L. (2016). The effect of students’ social capital on their creativity in Khouzestan Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University. Journal of Agricultural Education Administration Research, 8(36), 44-54. https://doi.org/10.22092/jaear.2016.106617
Battilana, J., & Lee, M. (2014). Advancing research on hybrid organizing-insights from the study of social enterprises. Academy of Management Annals, 8, 397-441. https://doi.org/10.1080/19416520.2014.893615
Beigi, S., Akbari, M., Ebrahimpour Azbari, M., & Veiseh, S. (2024). Improving the performance of SMEs in the food industry; the effects of strategic learning, strategic innovation, and strategic agility. Interdisciplinary Journal of Management Studies (Formerly known as Iranian Journal of Management Studies), ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.22059/ijms.2024.371318.676497
Bourdieu, P. (1986). The forms of capital. In J. G. Richardson (Ed.), Handbook of theory and research for the sociology of education (pp. 241–258). Greenwood Press.
Bozhikin, I., Macke, J., & da Costa, L. F. (2019). The role of government and key non-state actors in social entrepreneurship: A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 226, 730-747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.076
Chan, K.-T., Kuan, Y.-Y. & Wang, S. T. (2011). Similarities and divergences: Comparison of social enterprises in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Social Enterprise Journal, 7, 33-49. https://doi.org/10.1108/17508611111130149
Chandra, Y., Man Lee, E. K., & Tjiptono, F. (2021). Public versus private interest in social entrepreneurship: Can one serve two masters? Journal of Cleaner Production, 280, 124499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124499
Chen, R., Liu, Y. & Zhou, F. (2020). Research on the relationship between social capital and social entrepreneurship intention: The mediating role of entrepreneurial bricolage. In 6th International Conference on Humanities and Social Science Research (ICHSSR 2020) (pp. 545- 549), Atlantis Press.
Chen, Y., & He, Y. (2011). The impact of strong ties on entrepreneurial intention: An empirical study based on the mediating role of self-efficacy. Journal of Chinese Entrepreneurship, 3(2), 147–158. https://doi.org/10.1108/17561391111144573
Chia, C. C. & Liang, C. (2016). Influence of creativity and social capital on entrepreneurial intentions of tourism students. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, 12(2), 151–168.
Chitsazan, H., Bagheri, A., & Yusefi, A. (2017). Intellectual, psychological, and social capital and business innovation: The moderating effect of organizational culture. Interdisciplinary Journal of Management Studies (Formerly known as Iranian Journal of Management Studies), 10(2), 307-333. https://doi.org/10.22059/ijms.2017.215054.672249
Dacin, P. A., Dacin, M. T., & Matear, M. (2010). Social entrepreneurship: Why we don’t need a new theory and how we move forward from here. Academy of Management Perspectives, 24, 37–57. https://doi.org/10.5465/ AMP.2010.52842950
De Carolis, D. M., & Saparito, P. (2006). Social capital, cognition, and entrepreneurial opportunities: A theoretical framework. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 30, 41–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2006.00109.x
Dentchev, N., Baumgartner, R., Dieleman, H., Jóhannsdóttir, L., Jonker, J., Nyberg, T., Rauter, R., Rosano, M., Snihur, Y., Tang, X., & van Hoof, B. (2016). Embracing the variety of sustainable business models: Social entrepreneurship, corporate intrapreneurship, creativity, innovation, and other approaches to sustainability challenges. Journal of Cleaner Production, 113, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.10.130
Dey, P. (2006). The rhetoric of social entrepreneurship: Paralogy and new language in academic discourse. In Steyaert, Chris & Hjorth, Daniel (Ed.), Entrepreneurship as social change: A third movements in entrepreneurship book (pp. 121-143). Elgar.
Entrialgo, M., & Iglesias, V. (2016). The moderating role of entrepreneurship education on the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 12(4), 1209-1232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-016-0389-4
Fillis, I., & Rentschler, R., (2010). The role of creativity in entrepreneurship. Journal of Enterprising Culture, 18(1), 49-81, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218495810000501
Gedajlovic, E., Honig, B., Moore, C. B., Payne, G. T., & Wright, M. (2013). Social capital and entrepreneurship: A schema and research agenda. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 37(3), 455–478. https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12042
GEM. (2015a). Global entrepreneurship monitor: Special topic report on social entrepreneurship. Author.
GEM. (2015b). global entrepreneurship monitor 2015/2016 global report. Author.
Greve, A., & Salaff, J. W. (2003). Social Networks and Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 28(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-8520.00029
Giacomin, O., Janssen, F., Shinnar, R. S., Gundolf, K., & Shiri, N. (2022). Individual religious affiliation, religiosity and entrepreneurial intentions among students in four countries. International Small Business Journal, 41(3), 318-346. https://doi.org/10.1177/02662426221097910
Hasangholi Pour, T., Seyyedamiri, N., & Rahmani, Z. (2019). Providing a framework for identifying and commercializing entrepreneurship opportunities in wellness industry. Journal of Tourism and Development, 8(2), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.22034/jtd.2019.129875.1401
Hockerts, K. (2017). Determinants of Social Entrepreneurial Intentions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 41(1), 105-130. https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12171
Hsu, C, Y., & Wang, S. M. (2018). Social entrepreneurial intentions and its influential factors: A comparison of students in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 56(3), 385-395. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2018.1427611
Karimi, S., Biemans, H. J.A., Lans, T., Aazami, M., & Mulder, M. (2016). Fostering students’ competence in identifying business opportunities in entrepreneurship education. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 53(2), 215–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2014.993419
Kim, S. K., Shin, S. J., Shin, J., & Miller, D. R. (2018). Social networks and individual creativity: The role of individual differences. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 52(4), 285-296. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.153
Khoshmaram, M., Shiri, N., Shinnar, R. S., & Savari, M. (2020). Environmental support and entrepreneurial behavior among Iranian farmers: The mediating roles of social and human capital. Journal of Small Business Management, 58(5), 1064-1088. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12501
Khoshmaram, M., Zarafshani, K., Alibaygi, A. H., & Mirakzadeh A. A. (2017a). Modeling agricultural entrepreneurial opportunity recognition in Kermanshah province: Application of NVivo software. Journal of Rural Research, 8(3), 388-403. https://doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2017.63477
Khoshmaram, M., Zarafshani, K., Alibaygi, A. H., & Mirakzadeh A. A. (2017b). Exploring the role of social capital in agricultural entrepreneurial opportunity recognition:  Application of SmartPLS. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development, 7(4), 395-406. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/292503
Krueger, N. F., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15, 411-432. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(98)00033-0
Kushwaha, G. S., & Kumar Sharma, N. (2017). Factors influencing young entrepreneurial aspirant’s insight towards sustainable entrepreneurship. Interdisciplinary Journal of Management Studies (Formerly known as Iranian Journal of Management Studies), 10(2), 435-466. https://doi.org/10.22059/ijms.2017.224885.672467
Laguía, A., Morianoa, J. A., & Gorgievskib, M. J. (2019). A psychosocial study of self-perceived creativity and entrepreneurial intentions in a sample of university students. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 31(1), 44-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2018.11.004
Leadbeater, C. (1997). The rise of the social entrepreneur. Demos.
Low, C. (2006). A framework for the governance of social enterprise. International Journal of Social Economics, 33 (5/6), 376-385. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068290610660652
Lechner, C., & Dowling, M. (2003). Firm networks: External relationships as sources for the growth and competitiveness of entrepreneurial firms. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 15, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985620210159220
Lin, W. S., Hsu, Y. & Liang, C. (2014). The mediator effects of conceiving imagination on academic performance of design students. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 24(1), 73-89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-013-9244-x
Liñán, F., & Chen, Y. W. (2009). Development and cross-cultural application of a specific instrument to measure entrepreneurial intentions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33(3), 593-617. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2009.00318.x
Liñán, F., & Santos, F. J. (2007). Does social capital affect entrepreneurial intentions? International Advances in Economic Research, 13(4), 443-453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11294-007-9109-8
Ma, Z., Zhu, J., Meng, Y., & Teng, Y. (2019). The impact of overseas human capital and social ties on Chinese returnee entrepreneurs’ venture performance. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 25(1), 67-83. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-07-2017-0246
Macke, J., Sarate, J. A. R., Domeneghini, J., & Silva, K. A. d. (2018). Where do we go from now? Research framework for social entrepreneurship. Journal of Cleaner Production, 183, 677-685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.017
Mehdizadeh, H., Gholami, H., Shiri, N. & Khoshmaram, M. (2021). Predicting entrepreneurial opportunity recognition in higher education: a case from Iran. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education,  13(4), 944-960. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-04-2020-0109
Moradi, A., Maghsoudi Ganjeh, Y., & Bayati Ashkoftaki, Y.  (2018). The effect of social capital on social entrepreneurship of managers of NGOs in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Journal of Applied Studies in Management and Development Sciences, 3(5), 41-52.
Mulgan, G. (2007). Ready or not? Taking public sector seriously. NESTA. www.nesta.org.uk/library/documents/readyornot.pdf
Musa, H., & Chinniah, M. (2016). Malaysian SMEs development: Future and challenges on going green. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 224, 254-262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.457
Olufunso, O. F. (2010). Graduate entrepreneurial intentions in South Africa: Motivation and obstacles. International Journal of Business and Management, 5, 87-98.
Oussi, R., & Chtourou, W. (2020). Social capital dimensions and employee creativity: Does cognitive style matter? Competitiveness Review, 30(1), 4-21. https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-11-2019-0124  
Otadi, M. , Safari, S. and Abbasi, R. (2022). Impact of Creativity, Autonomy, and Workload on Entrepreneurial Intention of Students: The Mediating Role of Attitude toward Entrepreneurship. Journal of Entrepreneurship Research, 1(1), 1-16. doi: 10.22034/jer.2022.255168
Peredo, A. M., & McLean, M. (2006). Social entrepreneurship: A critical review of the concept. Journal of World Business, 41(1), 56-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2005.10.007
Pereira, B., Figlioli, A., Oliveira, D., & Silva, E. (2018). Expansion and evolution of incubation programs and entrepreneurship development in incubators in the state of Goiás, Brazil. International Journal of Innovation, 6(1), 68-84. https://doi.org/10.5585/iji.v6i1.62
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone. Simon & Schuster.
Rahdari, A., Sepasi, S., & Moradi, M. (2016). Achieving sustainability through Schumpeterian social entrepreneurship: The role of social enterprises. Journal of Cleaner Production, 137, 347-360. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.159
Rahim, R., & Raman, A. A. (2015) Cleaner production implementation in a fruit juice production plant. Journal of Cleaner Production, 101, 215-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.03.065.
Rahimi, S., Soheil, F., & Sadeghian, S. (2021). The relationship between social capital with organization creativity and efficiency among public library staff in Kermanshah. Sciences and Techniques of Information Management, 7(1), 99-120. https://doi.org/10.22091/stim.2020.5652.1405 
Runco, M. A., & Jaeger, G. J. (2012). The standard definition of creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 24(1), 92-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2012.650092
Saebi, T., Foss, N. J., & Linder, S. (2019). Social entrepreneurship research: Past achievements and future promises. Journal of Management, 45(1), 70–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206318793196
Sequeira, J., Mueller, S. L., & McGee, J. E. (2007). The influence of social ties and self-efficacy in forming entrepreneurial intentions and motivating nascent behavior. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 12(3), 275-293. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S108494670700068X
Sharma, L. (2014). Impact of family capital and social capital on youth entrepreneurship: A study of Uttarakhand state, India. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 4(14), 1–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40497-014-0014-3
Shaw, E., & Carter, S. (2007). Social entrepreneurship: Theoretical antecedents and empirical analysis of entrepreneurial processes and outcomes. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 14, 418-434. https://doi.org/10.1108/14626000710773529
Shi, Y., Yuan, T., Bell, R., & Wang, J. (2020). Investigating the relationship between creativity and entrepreneurial intention: The moderating role of creativity in the theory of planned behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(1209), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01209
Shiri, N., & Badpa, B. (2024). Predicting the Entrepreneurial Intention based on the Financial Intelligence Dimensions: A Study among Accounting Students. Journal of Entrepreneurship Research, 3(2), 51-64. doi: 10.22034/jer.2024.2031156.1128
Shiri, N., & Jafari-Sadeghi, V. (2022). Corporate social responsibility and green behaviour: Towards sustainable food-business development. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 30(2), 605-620.  https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2377
Shiri, N., Mehdizadeh, H., Khoshmaram, M., &  Azadi, H. (2022) Determinants of entrepreneurial alertness: Towards sustainable agribusiness development. British Food Journal, 124(7), 2279-2298. https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj-07-2021-0825
Shiri, N. , Mirakzadeh, A. A., & Zarafshani, K. (2022). Determinants of Entrepreneurial Behavior among Iranian Students: A Gender Analysis. Journal of Entrepreneurship Research, 1(1), 87-101. doi: 10.22034/jer.2022.697520
Shiri, N., Mirakzadeh, A. A., & Zarafshani, K. (2017). Promoting entrepreneurial behavior among agricultural students: A two-step approach to structural equation modeling. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development, 7(2), 211-221. DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.262646
Shiri, N., Shinnar, R. S., Mirakzadeh, A. A., & Zarafshani, K. (2017). Cultural values and entrepreneurial intentions among agriculture students in Iran. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 13(4), 1157-1179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-017-0444-9
Siegner, A., Sowerwine, J., & Acey, C. (2018). Does urban agriculture improve food security? Examining the nexus of food access and distribution of urban produced foods in the United States: A Systematic Review. Sustainability, 10(9), 2988. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su10092988
Smith, R., Bell, R., & Watts, H. (2014). Personality trait differences between traditional and social entrepreneurs. Social Enterprise Journal, 10(3), 200-221. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-08-2013-0033
Sozbilir, F. (2018). The interaction between social capital, creativity and efficiency in organizations. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 27, 92-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2017.12.006
Thirapongphaiboon, N. (2018). The power of social enterprises in encouraging food sustainability transitions in consumerism towards food waste reduction in the UK, Denmark, and the Netherlands: Concept, framework, and applicable practices for social entrepreneurs [MA thesis, Goldsmiths, University of London]. Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship.
Tiwari, P., Bhat, A. K., & Tikoria, J. (2017). An empirical analysis of the factors affecting social entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 7(9), 1-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40497-017-0067-1
Trivedi, C. (2010). Towards a social ecological framework for social entrepreneurship. The Journal of Entrepreneurship, 19(1), 63-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/097135570901900104
Viseh, M., & Nasrollahi Vosta, S. (2015). The impact of social capital on creativity in students: A case study of the students of management field at the University of Ilam. Journal of Islam and Social Studies, 3(11), 121-145. https://jiss.isca.ac.ir/article_21487.html?lang=en
Valizadeh, N., & Karimi Gougheri, H. (2018). An analysis of factors influencing the social entrepreneurial intention in rural and nomad women's micro-credit funds. Journal of Entrepreneurial Strategies in Agriculture, 5(9), 10-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.29252/jea.5.9.10  
Walker, R. M., & Jeanes, E. (2001). Innovation in a regulated service, the case of English housing associations. Public Management Review, 3(4), 525-550. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14616670110070596
Williams, D. (2006) On and off the Net: Scales for Social Capital in an Online Era. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication, 11, 593-628. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2006.00029.x
Yadegar, N., Me’mariani, M. M., & Sedgh Amiz, A. R. (2014). Social entrepreneurial intention: Interplay of social entrepreneurial attitude, financial security and social capital as antecedents. Journal of Entrepreneurship Development, 7(1), 133-152. https://doi.org/10.22059/jed.2014.51559
Yin Ip, C., Liang, C., Wu, S. C., Yin Law, K. M., & Liu, H. C. (2018). Enhancing social entrepreneurial intentions through entrepreneurial creativity: A comparative study between Taiwan and Hong Kong. Creativity Research Journal, 30(2), 132-142, https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2018.1446744
Yin Ip, C., Wu, S.C., Liu, H. C., & Liang, C. (2017). Social entrepreneurial intentions of students from Hong Kong. The Journal of Entrepreneurship, 27(1) 47-64. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971355717738596
Zakaria, M. N., & Bahrein, A. B. A. (2018). Formation of social entrepreneurship intention in Malaysia. International Journal of Advanced Studies in Social Science & Innovation, 2(2), 57-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.30690/ijassi.22.05
Zampetakis, L. A., & Moustakis, V. (2006). Linking creativity with entrepreneurial intentions: A structural approach. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 2(3), 413-428. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11365-006-0006-z
Zampetakis, L. A. (2008). The role of creativity and proactivity on perceived entrepreneurial desirability. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 3, 154-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2008.07.002
Zarinjoi Alvar, S. (2020). The mediating role of the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention in relation to previous experience and social entrepreneurship. Quarterly Journal of Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological, 18(3), 181-216. https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2021.31988.2275
 
Interdisciplinary Journal of Management Studies
Volume 18, Issue 4
October 2025
Pages 635-649

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics