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_For social entrepreneurs, who often operate under conditions of resource scarcity, building partnerships offers an effective way to gain complementary capabilities. Heike Schirmer investigates the dynamics of partnerships between social ventures and corporations. Based on four case studies from Germany, the author shows two opposing formation processes. Means-driven partnerships, dominated by elements of effectuation, start with generalized aspirations and evolve over time. Goal-driven partnerships, dominated by elements of causation, start with pre-determined goals and follow a strategic, systematic implementation. The data also reveals that formation processes and governance mechanisms might be interlinked.

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Social Entrepreneurship, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Socially-Oriented Partnerships.- Partnership Formation Processes: Means-Driven and Goal-Driven Partnerships.- Governance Mechanisms in Inter-Organizational Relations and Their Link to Partnership Formation Processes.

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Heike Schirmer obtained her PhD from the Freie Universität Berlin focusing on cross-sector partnerships. She works as a consultant at a leading international management consultancy.

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