The importance of theory in social enterprise research

Purpose The purpose of this article is to review the importance of theory in social enterprise research. Design/methodology/approach The article presents and relates previous work on theory borrowing, theory extension and theory generation to social enterprise research. Findings Theoretical embeddeness and social relevance are important for the legitimacy of social enterprise research. Research limitations/implications Social enterprise research offers a promising array of opportunities for theory extension and development. Practical implications In the social sciences, practical relevance is important for good theory development. Better theories have the potential to improve practice. Originality/value The article applies previous research on theory borrowing, extension and development to the context of social enterprise research.