How large-scale companies and social enterprises improve the sustainability of their partnership? : The case study of IKEA and Doi Tung social enterprise in Thailand

Nowadays consumers have become more and more socially conscious because of the rising concern about social and environmental issues. In this context, large scale companies are one of the main actors which are required to increase their efforts. They have increased the amount of charity actions or philanthropic collaboration in the latest years but both have shown limited effects and benefits especially on the long-term. This research is treating a new kind of partnership between large scale companies and social enterprises which is based on a true business approach with a long-term strategy. This new type of partnership requires a higher effort for its sustainability on the long-term and there was a gap in the literature when it comes to that point and it is this gap that this research aims to fill. The research was conducted through the analysis of a case study about the partnership between IKEA and Doi Tung, a social enterprise based in Thailand. Through semi-structured interviews conducted with both parts, it was possible to point out the challenges faced by large scale companies and social enterprises during their partnership but also to highlight four keys aspects which ensure the sustainability of this type of partnership; partnership selection and preparation, partnership driver, partnership nature, and partnership adaptation. The research contributes to the knowledge in the area of entrepreneurship and practical knowledge on the corporate-social enterprise partnership