DHRIITI: DEVELOPING THE PERFECT PLATE
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
e
pl
SYNOPSIS
m
Sa
The case is about Dhriiti–The Courage Within (Dhriiti), a non-governmental organization founded in 2004
in Assam, India, to help rural communities in northeastern India generate income by producing areca
tableware.1 In 2009, Dhriiti established the for-profit social enterprise Tamul Plates Marketing Private
Limited (Tamul) to manage the entire value chain of the tableware. As Tamul expanded, it decentralized its
n
production model to better promote rural entrepreneurs and to supplement its existing centralized factory-
based production unit. However, women’s participation in these decentralized units remained low. In
tio
response, Dhriiti established Project Pragati, which successfully empowered 29 rural women entrepreneurs
and inspired many more.
lu
The case highlights the dilemma of the co-founders in December 2022. They can expand the capacity of
Tamul’s existing centralized production unit to grow the enterprise, which will generate more direct
So
employment for local women. Alternatively, they can invest in more decentralized production units to
establish a longer-term, more empowering model of promoting rural entrepreneurs, which will both engage
women and transform them into change agents in their communities.
OBJECTIVES
• Understand the characteristics of a social enterprise.
• Analyze the approaches a social enterprise can take to scale up its operations and thereby achieve its
social goals while ensuring financial viability and growth.
• Consider the social and financial trade-offs of employing in-house, centralized production versus
decentralized, entrepreneur-driven production.
• Identify the factors hindering women entrepreneurs in an emerging economy.
• Assess the social impact of women-owned enterprises.
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
1. What are the characteristics of a social enterprise? Which characteristics make Tamul a social
enterprise?
2. Can Tamul be evaluated as a sustainable social enterprise?
3. What are the pros and cons of the two production models under consideration? Which production model
should Arora adopt to scale up Tamul?
4. What hurdles do rural women face when becoming entrepreneurs?
5. What is the societal impact of Project Pragati?
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
ANALYSIS
So
1. What are the characteristics of a social enterprise? Which characteristics make Tamul a social
enterprise?
To gain an introductory understanding of the concept of social entrepreneurship, students should read the
third entry in Relevant Readings. Social entrepreneurship can be defined as a “process involving the
innovative use and combination of resources to pursue opportunities to catalyze social change and/or
address social needs.”3
Thus, social enterprises can be defined as organizations that engage in economic activities to achieve social
change. The aspect of bringing social change distinguishes social enterprises from commercial enterprises.
The focus on economic activity also sets social enterprises apart from social movements. The mission of
creating transformative social change differentiates social enterprises from corporate social responsibility or
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, e
pl
m
Sa
5. What is the societal impact of Project Pragati?
n
While not directly increasing revenues for Tamul, Project Pragati has helped reimagine the futures of a group
tio
of women from rural Assam who previously never identified as producers or entrepreneurs. As mentioned in
the case, these women lived in remote rural areas with limited infrastructure and economic opportunities.
lu
The project has instilled the spirit of entrepreneurship in rural women and has granted them financial
independence, allowing them to earn, save, and invest. As mentioned in the case, each women entrepreneur
could earn an additional income of ₹4,800 to ₹5,500 per month through these enterprises. This financial
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, EXHIBIT -1: STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS FOR TAMUL
Strengths Weaknesses
1. The product is eco-friendly and 1. Operations are regionally confined owing
sustainable. to the location of raw material.
2. 2.
3.
4.
5.
e
Opportunities Threats
1. Production can be scaled up. 1. The production process can be replicated
pl
by private companies
2. 2.
m
Sa
3. 3.
n
tio
4. 4.
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
e
pl
SYNOPSIS
m
Sa
The case is about Dhriiti–The Courage Within (Dhriiti), a non-governmental organization founded in 2004
in Assam, India, to help rural communities in northeastern India generate income by producing areca
tableware.1 In 2009, Dhriiti established the for-profit social enterprise Tamul Plates Marketing Private
Limited (Tamul) to manage the entire value chain of the tableware. As Tamul expanded, it decentralized its
n
production model to better promote rural entrepreneurs and to supplement its existing centralized factory-
based production unit. However, women’s participation in these decentralized units remained low. In
tio
response, Dhriiti established Project Pragati, which successfully empowered 29 rural women entrepreneurs
and inspired many more.
lu
The case highlights the dilemma of the co-founders in December 2022. They can expand the capacity of
Tamul’s existing centralized production unit to grow the enterprise, which will generate more direct
So
employment for local women. Alternatively, they can invest in more decentralized production units to
establish a longer-term, more empowering model of promoting rural entrepreneurs, which will both engage
women and transform them into change agents in their communities.
OBJECTIVES
• Understand the characteristics of a social enterprise.
• Analyze the approaches a social enterprise can take to scale up its operations and thereby achieve its
social goals while ensuring financial viability and growth.
• Consider the social and financial trade-offs of employing in-house, centralized production versus
decentralized, entrepreneur-driven production.
• Identify the factors hindering women entrepreneurs in an emerging economy.
• Assess the social impact of women-owned enterprises.
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
1. What are the characteristics of a social enterprise? Which characteristics make Tamul a social
enterprise?
2. Can Tamul be evaluated as a sustainable social enterprise?
3. What are the pros and cons of the two production models under consideration? Which production model
should Arora adopt to scale up Tamul?
4. What hurdles do rural women face when becoming entrepreneurs?
5. What is the societal impact of Project Pragati?
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
ANALYSIS
So
1. What are the characteristics of a social enterprise? Which characteristics make Tamul a social
enterprise?
To gain an introductory understanding of the concept of social entrepreneurship, students should read the
third entry in Relevant Readings. Social entrepreneurship can be defined as a “process involving the
innovative use and combination of resources to pursue opportunities to catalyze social change and/or
address social needs.”3
Thus, social enterprises can be defined as organizations that engage in economic activities to achieve social
change. The aspect of bringing social change distinguishes social enterprises from commercial enterprises.
The focus on economic activity also sets social enterprises apart from social movements. The mission of
creating transformative social change differentiates social enterprises from corporate social responsibility or
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, e
pl
m
Sa
5. What is the societal impact of Project Pragati?
n
While not directly increasing revenues for Tamul, Project Pragati has helped reimagine the futures of a group
tio
of women from rural Assam who previously never identified as producers or entrepreneurs. As mentioned in
the case, these women lived in remote rural areas with limited infrastructure and economic opportunities.
lu
The project has instilled the spirit of entrepreneurship in rural women and has granted them financial
independence, allowing them to earn, save, and invest. As mentioned in the case, each women entrepreneur
could earn an additional income of ₹4,800 to ₹5,500 per month through these enterprises. This financial
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, EXHIBIT -1: STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS FOR TAMUL
Strengths Weaknesses
1. The product is eco-friendly and 1. Operations are regionally confined owing
sustainable. to the location of raw material.
2. 2.
3.
4.
5.
e
Opportunities Threats
1. Production can be scaled up. 1. The production process can be replicated
pl
by private companies
2. 2.
m
Sa
3. 3.
n
tio
4. 4.
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
