Managing Multiple Logics: The Role of Performance Measurement Systems in Social Enterprises

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This systematic literature review explores the role of performance measurement systems (PMSs) in managing multiple logics in social enterprises. Social enterprises are hybrid organizations that simultaneously pursue a social mission (social logic) and financial sustainability (commercial logic). Satisfying multiple logics often leads to tensions, which are addressed and managed through PMSs. For this, we conduct a systematic literature review to derive our conclusions. PMSs in social enterprises may assume the roles of mediator, disrupter and symbolizer. The PMS works as a mediator in combination with sincere stakeholder involvement when both logics are represented in the PMS. If a PMS represents only one logic, it increases tensions and the PMS becomes a disrupter. When the PMS is used to enhance legitimacy, the PMS assumes the role of a symbolizer. In particular, we find that PMSs are most useful for monitoring performance and enhancing legitimacy. The role of PMSs in decision-making is limited due to difficulties of integrating social and commercial logics into a single PMS. Several factors—such as decision-makers’ influence—further shape the role of PMSs
Original languageEnglish
Article number2327
JournalSustainability
Volume11
Issue number8
Number of pages23
ISSN2071-1050
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18.04.2019

Bibliographical note

Funding: J.G.N. Ph.d.project was funded by Innovationsfonden Denmark. The APC was funded by University of Southern Denmark.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by the authors.

    Research areas

  • performance measurement, social enterprise, tensions, stakeholder involvement
  • Management studies

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