Abstract
D.Phil.
My social entrepreneurship case study, and in particular my life as a “Draytonian
Changemaker”, takes the form of an autoethnographic dissertation journey (Garratt,
2003). You are cordially invited to witness this journey, which will be presented by
using a relatively new qualitative method.
Autoethnography, a relatively new qualitative method, represents: “… a multilayered,
intertextual case study that integrates private and social experience and ties
autobiographical to sociological writing …” (Ellis, 1995, p. 3). I trust that you will enjoy
my expedition as a social entrepreneur but, more importantly, in the words of the
leading social entrepreneur of autoethnography, Prof. Carolyn Ellis (University of North
Carolina, USA), urge her readers to “experience the power of autoethnography, feel its
truths as well as come to know it intellectually!” (Ellis, 2004, p. xix).
You will encounter the many people who influenced my life, amongst others, Prof.
Willem Schurink, my promoter, who acted as my “tour guide” and “Ultra City” en route.
I am an activist by nature and this characteristic naturally has also taken root in my
writing (see Sparkes, 2002). Ultimately, I would like you to embrace my world: the
world of the Draytonian Changemaker, of people who believe that we can change the
world with our burning desire to make a difference through revolutionary social
innovations. The following points are of particular importance for this rather unusual
journey:
• The journey also represents the cultural setting of my world – the world of
Susan Steinman – the social entrepreneur, activist and workplace violence
expert in the greater universe of social entrepreneurs. This relatively new
concept is explored in Part I of this thesis in which the terrain of the journey is
mapped by acquainting the reader with the concept of social entrepreneurship
as it is understood by scholars, as well as the viewpoints of Ashoka, a
fellowship of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs.