How entrepreneurs help build democracy in service-oriented businesses

This paper explores how entrepreneurs help build democracy in service-oriented businesses. It draws on case studies of three firms in the United States to examine how different business models are associated with different types of democratic processes and practices. The findings suggest that service-oriented businesses are more likely to democratize their decision-making processes and to engage employees and customers in co-production than other types of businesses. These findings have implications for our understanding of the role of entrepreneurship in promoting democracy.

Service-oriented businesses are often lauded for their ability to create new value through innovation and customer focus. However, these businesses also have the potential to promote democracy through their organizational structures and practices. For example, service-oriented businesses are typically organized around a customer-centric business model, which can lead to more democratic decision-making processes that involve employees and customers in co-production. In addition, service-oriented businesses often rely on collaborative relationships with other organizations, which can help to build trust and cooperation among different stakeholders.

The findings of this paper suggest that service-oriented businesses can play a valuable role in promoting democracy. However, it is important to note that not all service-oriented businesses are equally likely to promote democracy. The type of business model employed by a service-oriented business is an important factor in determining its potential to promote democracy. Businesses that adopt a customer-centric business model are more likely to democratize their decision-making processes and engage employees and customers in co-production than businesses that adopt other types of business models.

This research has implications for our understanding of the role of entrepreneurship in promoting democracy. Service-oriented businesses have the potential to promote democracy through their organizational structures and practices. However, not all service-oriented businesses are equally likely to promote democracy. The type of business model employed by a service-oriented business is an important factor in determining its potential to promote democracy.

These findings suggest that policymakers and other stakeholders should consider the role of service-oriented businesses in promoting democracy when designing policies and programs to support entrepreneurship. In particular, policies and programs that seek to support entrepreneurship should take into account the different types of business models that service-oriented businesses can adopt. By doing so, they can better target their support to those businesses that are most likely to promote democracy.