This dissertation is in two parts exploring one key concept of social enterprise. The subject sid... more This dissertation is in two parts exploring one key concept of social enterprise. The subject side of the dissertation investigates the success behind social enterprise and explores the idea of core competencies. A detailed study was carried out through interviews with 11 social entrepreneurs in the Greater Manchester area to gage their opinions and experiences relating to social enterprise set up and success. This theory and research has then been used to create a comprehensive analysis of organisational core competencies, capabilities and the individual traits, attributes and characteristics needed by those involved in social enterprise. These theories relating to social enterprise where then incorporated into the second half of the dissertation, which is a detailed business plan for a social enterprise recruitment agency named “Job Smart”. The business plan examines all aspects of the business from the micro and macro environments to the service development and value propositions of the business as well as the financial viability of “Job Smart”. The concluding chapter of the enterprise dissertation provides a final decision as to whether the business is a viable option and if the author is to take the project to the next stage of development which would be to launch the enterprise.
This study examines one of the most debated topics in the sociology of culture: Does music taste ... more This study examines one of the most debated topics in the sociology of culture: Does music taste affirm one’s class? Using Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of “habitus” and “cultural capital” against Richard Peterson’s theory of the “cultural omnivore”, I aim to investigate whether a difference can be identified in music tastes and consumption between people from different social classes. I build on the works of the Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change (CRESC) and the data collected in their “Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion project” (2003-2004). As much of the debate in this area falls on the subjectivity of musical genres, I conducted a study using music elicitation to build on the current debates whilst incorporating the active listening experience. I conducted two focus groups consisting of participants from either a working class background or a middle class background and compared the data collected from the two groups. The findings suggest that music taste is heavily influenced by social background and early socialisation and thus disputes Peterson’s omnivore theory. They also indicate that these differences have little influence on consumption levels.
This dissertation is in two parts exploring one key concept of social enterprise. The subject sid... more This dissertation is in two parts exploring one key concept of social enterprise. The subject side of the dissertation investigates the success behind social enterprise and explores the idea of core competencies. A detailed study was carried out through interviews with 11 social entrepreneurs in the Greater Manchester area to gage their opinions and experiences relating to social enterprise set up and success. This theory and research has then been used to create a comprehensive analysis of organisational core competencies, capabilities and the individual traits, attributes and characteristics needed by those involved in social enterprise. These theories relating to social enterprise where then incorporated into the second half of the dissertation, which is a detailed business plan for a social enterprise recruitment agency named “Job Smart”. The business plan examines all aspects of the business from the micro and macro environments to the service development and value propositions of the business as well as the financial viability of “Job Smart”. The concluding chapter of the enterprise dissertation provides a final decision as to whether the business is a viable option and if the author is to take the project to the next stage of development which would be to launch the enterprise.
This study examines one of the most debated topics in the sociology of culture: Does music taste ... more This study examines one of the most debated topics in the sociology of culture: Does music taste affirm one’s class? Using Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of “habitus” and “cultural capital” against Richard Peterson’s theory of the “cultural omnivore”, I aim to investigate whether a difference can be identified in music tastes and consumption between people from different social classes. I build on the works of the Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change (CRESC) and the data collected in their “Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion project” (2003-2004). As much of the debate in this area falls on the subjectivity of musical genres, I conducted a study using music elicitation to build on the current debates whilst incorporating the active listening experience. I conducted two focus groups consisting of participants from either a working class background or a middle class background and compared the data collected from the two groups. The findings suggest that music taste is heavily influenced by social background and early socialisation and thus disputes Peterson’s omnivore theory. They also indicate that these differences have little influence on consumption levels.
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Papers by Alicia Dunning