Transformational leadership challenges in social enterprises and technology

¶ … Transformational Leaders: Service and Technology

Today's world-pressing challenges depict the need for social enterprises that help establish financially sustainable organizations (Smith, Besharov, Wessels, and Chertok, 2012). The success of these enterprises relies on the effective management of the arising conflicts from dual commitments to achieve commercial viability and improve social welfare. As a result, it is essential in building a theory focused on addressing the challenges and associated skills aimed at effective management of tensions arising in the realization of organizational goals and objectives.

Smith, Besharov, Wessels, and Chertok (2012) proposed a paradoxical leadership model for social entrepreneurs. The theory focuses on addressing the need for leaders of social enterprises to cultivate on skills for managing competing financial and social demands. Questions addressed in this model include the present leadership challenges in attending to the competing demands of social enterprises, effective skills to address the challenges, and pedagogical tools essential to develop the required skills. Zott, Amit, and Massa (2011) assert the significance of creating value in business models in the realization of organizational goals in the current dynamic economic front. Further, the authors agree that emerging themes in the business world call for a unified study of the business models to depict realistic and workable models.

The emergence of the business model concept has occurred as a prominent aspect of modern patterns of trading and economic behaviors. Business has acknowledged the concept of realigning their businesses to match current market demands. In doing so, modeling business concepts that suit the business environment serves as a fundamental aspect to foster organizational prosperity (Zott, Amit, and Massa, 2011). Both the two sides acknowledge the presence of challenges associated with meeting social and financial demands of the organization. Zott, Amit, and Massa further reinforce their assertions by reviewing the business model in multiple lenses. It is evident that the concept of business models has occurred as a concern for organizations as they seek to seal loopholes and attain their objectives.

Sabatier, Kennard, and Mangematin (2012) reveal the impact created by disruptive business models and technological discontinuities from the perspective of the drug industry. In this journal, authors seek to identify the factors that may trigger the changes that affect company productivity. In this study, significance in developing strategies aimed at capturing value from the innovations comes in handy to eliminate the disruptions of technologies and other business models. Identification of disruptive business model triggers comes in handy in highlighting the relevance of this study based on today's dynamic drug industry.

According to Sabatier, Kennard, and Mangematin (2012), bioinformatics and biotechnology have brought forward advanced methods in discovering and developing drugs. Additionally, scholars have raised concerns about the role of technological discontinuities that have resulted in industry shake-ups that disrupt traditional competitive advantages. From the three journals, we realize that transformational leaders encounter a myriad of challenges in the industry. It has become inevitable to escape remodeling of strategies to meet the social and financial demands of the organization.

The three researchers depict different angles in the research paradigms utilized. Sabatier, Kennard, and Mangematin (2012) adopted a descriptive approach that employed research and analysis of the concept of the dynamism in the drug industry and what they identified. From their research, readers acknowledge of the impact of technological discontinuities in the business environment. As explained in the paper, the dominance of companies in the drug industry relies on chain value stability, extensive use of alliances and networks, and product innovations. The three elements suffice modern quest by industry players in dominating the marketplace. Additionally, the authors bring into play the impact of bioinformatics and biotechnology in depicting a change from the traditional ways of discovering and drug development. Companies that fail to fit the new changes risk losing market and relevance. The research relied on a study conducted on seven case studies conducted on bioinformatics companies (According to Sabatier, Kennard, and Mangematin, 2012). Data collected enabled researchers in revealing insights on the dominance of companies that have realized benefits of technological changes.

Smith, Besharov, Wessels, and Chertok (2012) depicted an explanatory research approach based on testing and deriving a hypothesis from available theories. Drawing on paradox research, the authors build a theory based on the challenges faced by transformation leaders and the associated skills in realizing effective management of the social and financial demands of the organization. In doing so, they reach a proposed paradoxical leadership model that suits social entrepreneurs that occur as crucial players to facilitate the realization of organizational outcomes. Challenges arise in the development of meta-skills that include differentiation, acceptance, and integration. Encompassing these meta-skills, helps alleviate the challenges in meeting social and financial demands expected from social entrepreneurs.