Page 53 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

1.9 Operational Definitions
This study conducted in-depth interviews aligned with three primary research objectives: (1) to

examine the current status of social businesses; (2) to explore exemplary social business models;
and (3) to investigate the mechanisms for expanding the number of social businesses, commonly
referred to as the social business ecosystem.

To present a comprehensive and connected picture of the social business landscape, interviews
conducted to address broader research questions employed an inclusive definition of “social
business.” In this context, any income-generating activity that supports social initiatives was
included. This broader definition helped uncover the motivations and driving forces behind
businesses choosing to register as social enterprises under Thai law.

In-depth interviews were conducted with four target groups, as outlined below:

1. Social businesses, further categorized into the following subgroups:
1.1 Businesses with the goal of creating employment and income for vulnerable,
disadvantaged, or marginalized populations;
1.2 Businesses with production processes, products, or services that help resolve social
problems, for example, by reducing global warming through clean or alternative energy
solutions, or by addressing pollution;

1.3 For-profit businesses that adopt sustainable and ethical practices to minimize negative
impact while maximizing positive contributions to society;
1.4 Conventional for-profit businesses that are legally obligated to return a portion of their
profits to society.
The research placed particular emphasis on interviewing organizations that were legally
registered as social enterprises, as compared to other subgroups in this category.

2. Non‑profit public‑interest organizations, including associations and foundations that conduct
revenue‑generating activities or belong to networks engaged in social business initiatives.

3. Community-based organizations, which were subdivided into:
1.1 Cooperatives, and
1.2 Community enterprises, local organizations focused on solving issues specific to their
community or local population groups.
In addition to building a broader picture of the current landscape of social businesses, this study
aimed to answer two important questions:

• What are the motivations driving businesses to register as social enterprises?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of operating as a registered social enterprise

compared to a cooperative or a community enterprise?

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