What makes a student-run social enterprise sustain and flourish? A case study on Gourmet Guru Academy

• Main Authors: Lin, Kelvin, Liu, Xiangting, Ang, Dunhao
• Other Authors: Wee Beng Geok
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Business::General::Social aspects
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/51303
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This case study seeks out what makes a student-managed social enterprise work in the modern society, specifically in Singapore. In this paper, we focus our analysis on Gourmet Guru Academy Singapore (GGA) by looking at its structure, form, transfer of knowledge and strategic management. We will explore key success factors and limitations of a typical social enterprise run by students. Furthermore, we aim to further provide insight on measuring the performance of such an organization. Finally, we wish to extend our findings to other types of social enterprises in Singapore. We applied a qualitative methodology in this project; information were collected primarily through various interviews (both digital and personal), and on site observations. Information collected was then sieved through and analysed. The analysis of GGA will be done in two parts. The first 3 chapters of the report seek to understand the processes and structure of GGA. This is done through examining its strategic management and what it seeks to achieve. We will analyse GGA’s success by applying the Input-Impact model proposed by Epstein and Buhovac [2009]. The model is chosen because it assesses beyond the observable outputs and examines further at the outcomes and impacts of social enterprises. Chapters 4 and 5 of the report seek to explain GGA’s success. We will use GGA’s organisational structure and operational aspects to explain its accomplishment thus far. This is followed by a study on the implications of having students run the organisation. Finally the report will discuss the limitations and sustainability of GGA’s business model.