When Participatory Research and Business Strategy Collide:Lessons from Base-of-Pyramid Ventures
Andrea Grzybowski, Blair Mathias, Khanjan MehtaHumanitarian Engineering & Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) Program
The Pennsylvania State University
Road Map• Participatory Research & (Social) Entrepreneurship• Collisions, Tensions & Conflicts
•Systemic Issues with Accessing Accurate Information•How Entrepreneurship Can Compromise Research•How Research Can Impact Venture Strategy
Global Context
Affordable Greenhouses Solar Food Dehydrator
Mashavu Wishvast
30 Published ; 9 In Review; 30+ In Progress
Applied Science, Designs,
Methodologies, Curricular Models
Lessons Learned & Resources
Self-Determined Development
Participatory Research
Paradox of Participation
HESE: Academic Integration
Access to Accurate Information
Translation
Access to Accurate Information
Budgetary Restrictions
Access to Accurate Information
Appropriate Data Collection Methods
Access to Accurate Information
Conflict of Interest
Access to Accurate Information
Trust and Intellectual Property
Accurate Information
Accurate Assessment of Expectations and Equities
from All Stakeholders
Eship compromises Research
Eship Compromising Research
Bias with foreigners in the communities
Rumors and Misinformation
Eship Compromising Research
Short term vs. Long-term Expectations
Eship Compromising Research
Levels of Collaboration
Eship Compromising Research
Participation Expectations and Ownership
Compromise Sustainability and Scalability
Participatory (research and approach) can hurt Business Growth
Venture Expectations / Fixation
Research hurting Business Strategy
Scale-up Limitations
Research hurting Business Strategy
1 2 3
Product Trials & Pricing Strategy
Research hurting Business Strategy
Appropriate & Rigorous Research and Design to
Build Multi-Million Smile Enterprises