Why Social Entrepreneurs Should Pressure-Test Their Ideas

Social entrepreneurs -- or those who try to tackle major social problems such as poverty and disease while generating revenues -- are often well-meaning people. But in their desire to make a difference to society, they sometimes fail to subject their ideas to rigorous tests. Ian MacMillan, a professor of management at Wharton, and James Thompson, who leads the Wharton Social Enterprise Program, are working on an e-book titled, The Social Entrepreneur's Playbook, to help them do just that. In the first of a two-part interview, MacMillan and Thompson explain why it is important for social enterprises to subject their beloved notions to tough love. 📂 ESG