(Nowy Sacz School of Business – National-Louis University, 2014) Niemelä, Tarja; Kauko-Valli, Sofia
We investigate the complex dynamics between social service entrepreneurs and social
sector managers through the lens of network metaphor, utilizing our data on social
service entrepreneurs’ experiences of cooperation with municipalities. We examine
what kinds of dependencies exist in the entrepreneur–municipality relationships and
what kind of consequences these dependencies have on social service businesses run
by entrepreneurs. Basing on the social service entrepreneurs experience, our findings
suggest that while the cooperation with the municipality represents a prerequisite
for success, their business represent only one alternative for the renewal of social
service structures from the point of view of municipalities. In addition, the existence
of legally enforced supervisory duties incorporates a considerable amount of power
that influences areas of the entrepreneur–municipality relationships and interaction
other than just those defined by the supervisory and regulatory rights.