(Social Business Models and Social Entrepreneurship: Boğaziçi University Consumption Cooperative Case)

Abstract

Purpose – New ideas that meet social needs and create new social relationships and collaborations are social innovations and come to life through social entrepreneurs. In today's constantly changing and developing social structure, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which create new business models to meet basic human needs in areas where the state is not sufficient, exhibit examples of social entrepreneurship by keeping up with this change and development. Drawing from social business model and social entrepreneurship literature, Boğaziçi University Consumption Cooperative (BÜKOOP) which uses an alternative business is examined in this study. Design/Methodology/Approach – In this study, Boğaziçi University Consumption Cooperative, which forms an alternative business model that brings together small producers in the field of food without consumers and intermediaries, has been examined by case study method. Secondary data sources (news, interviews, scientific articles about BÜKOOP, and information on BÜKOOP website) were used in the study. Findings – How and for what purpose BÜKOOP launched this social enterprise, what kind of activities were carried out while performing, how these works were done, the organizational structure and activities of the enterprise were tried to be revealed by using the model developed by Tracey, Phillips and Jarvis (2011) by focusing on “work” done during formation a new organizational form. In addition, BÜKOOP social business model was explained by using the Social Business Model Canvas (Kent State University, 2019) and the business model canvas of Osterwalder and Pigneur (2010). Discussion – It can be stated that BÜKOOP has aimed to provide healthy food to the consumer at an affordable price without intermediaries and perform these activities with a social entrepreneurial structure. In conclusion, this study focused on the creation of a new social business model through social entrepreneurship.