How can small and medium-sized organizations with hybrid objectives preserve their mission? A social capital approach

Abstract

The ability of hybrid organizations to achieve different and potentially collusive aims simultaneously can cause tension with their stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to explore how small and medium-sized organizations try balance their threatened social and economic goals through social capital in order to achieve hybridity. We follow a case study approach to explore how three small and medium-sized organizations deal with hybridity. The results show the importance of balancing different types of social capital, such as bonding and bridging, to be able to face the lock-in and dependence risks that challenge their hybrid nature. We identify the conditions that SMOs should fulfill to avoid these risks and we roll out a set of strategies for SMOs to achieve sustainable hybridity. Finally, we highlight the relevance of supportive ecosystem backing SMOs’ hybrid purposes consistently.