| Researches and theories about social enterprise have been introduced to China since 2004, and the concept of social enterprise spread in China rapidly. Under the impact of Wenchuan earthquake and the scandal of China Red Cross, the development of Chinese philanthropy becomes a hot issue in China. As a new type of organization, social enterprise has commercial and social features, which enable social enterprise to be a new power of Chinese philanthropy. However, academic studies about social enterprise in China are still limited to study or discussion about its origin and connotation, while few studies develop new perspectives or methodology, such as case study or empirical research. Based on the fact mentioned above and the ecology theories, this study focused on a new idea, social enterprise ecosystem, and tried to discuss social enterprise ecosystem in the perspective of ecology and business ecosystem. Also, the study based on self-organization theory, business ecosystem and social network, and answered a core question: what is social enterprise ecosystem? Therefore, this study will discuss this question through the following three aspects: How social enterprise ecosystem form and develop? What does social enterprise ecosystem comprise? What are the features of the relationship between core members of social enterprise ecosystem? In order to answer these questions, this study used case study research method and studied a typical Chinese social enterprise GETWELL Inc. for three consecutive years. First, three critical issues were discussed based on the case study of GETWELL Inc.: the formation, structure and features of social enterprise. Based on the discussion of Chinese social enterprise GETWELL Inc., some conclusions were drawn: first, the formation of social enterprise is a dynamic process of self-organization, which is based on emotionality, identity and trust between core members. Second, social enterprise ecosystem has a complex, multi-lever and dynamic structure. Third, core members of social enterprise ecosystem establish a reqing exchange relationship combined with instrumental and emotional exchange; there is also a symbiotic relationship between core members; social enterprise is one of core member of social enterprise ecosystem and combines other members as a bridge. |
