Evolution and Trends in Social Enterprise Governance: A Structured Literature Review

Purpose: This paper aims to review and critique governance literature within social enterprises (SEs), offer an overview of the state of research, and outline a future research agenda. Design/methodology/approach: 78 refereed journal articles are analysed using a structured literature review methodology. Findings: The governance of SEs is an increasingly relevant research topic. However, the literature remains fragmented and, at times, contradictory. The definitional challenges associated with the different types of SEs referenced across studies (e.g., non-profit organisations, hybrid organisations, and others) further complicate comparative analyses. The findings reveal three key insights: First, the governance of SEs is shaped by internal attributes and the fundamental dichotomy between social mission and economic sustainability, influencing their governance models. Second, SEs increasingly act as strategic coordinators in cross-sector collaborations, highlighting the complexity of managing multi-stakeholder partnerships. Third, there is a divergence in country frameworks, leading to inconsistent results in SE governance research, emphasising the importance of understanding local regulatory contexts. Originality/value: This paper provides a structured literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles, offering valuable insights for future research directions