Tracing collaboration threads in social entrepreneurship literature

Purpose This study aims to estimate the relationship between collaboration and social entrepreneurship organizations (SEOs), identifying the current and emerging collaborative scenarios in which SEOs are involved to provide an integral understanding of SEOs’ collaborative behavior and development. Design/methodology/approach Based on a dual methodological approach (bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review [SLR]), the authors identify key research clusters, co-citation patterns and emerging trends in the field. The authors’ keyword clusters, derived from bibliometric analysis, guide the SLR and allow the identification of collaborative scenarios. Combining both methodologies enriches the paper by bridging the collaborative scenarios through thematic clusters and current and emerging research associations. Findings The analysis reveals four key scenarios: inter-organizational collaboration; cross-sector collaboration; collective action; and collaborative learning and networks. These scenarios shape the collaborative behavior of SEOs in the existing literature, which reconfigures their collaborative orientation, generating tensions, actions and strategies for archiving social mission and impact. Research limitations/implications This study’s timeframe (2003–2023) limits temporal scope. Reliance on Scopus may introduce bias, despite cross-checking with Web of Science. Our theoretical propositions require empirical validation through future research. Practical implications With the identification of the scenarios or collaborative dynamics in which SEOs are involved, the study proposes collaboration as an opportunity and capacity to be developed at the SEOs that can allow the scaling of its impacts to a systemic level. Social implications Understanding how collaboration shapes organizational behavior helps SEOs develop capabilities to address complex social challenges. The findings suggest policymakers can design regulatory environments facilitating interorganizational or cross-sector collaboration, potentially amplifying impact. Originality/value By identifying the collaborative scenarios that SEOs establish on an ongoing basis, as well as the features that characterize them, and by understanding the nature and emerging impact of these collaborative arrangements, this study provides a significant advancement in both theories and practice in social entrepreneurship, offering valuable guidance for future studies in SEO collaboration, particularly in delineating the intricate endeavors of collaboration at the organizational level.