Report
Governance, Business Models and Resilience in Queensland Social Enterprises: Current Perspectives and Knowledge Insights for Growth and Sustainability
University of the Sunshine Coast
2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00857
Abstract
Social Enterprises (SEs) are businesses with a social purpose. They receive a part or all of their income from trading goods and services to enable the delivery of a social good. This is unlike most purely commercial organisations than operate solely to maximise profit and achieve competitive economic advantage. The dual agenda of SEs, in needing to achieve economic efficiencies to enable effective delivery of their social purpose, means their governance, business models and resilience practices are more complex than commercial only businesses. Indeed, the dual challenge of balancing the economic activities that support their social purpose with the delivery of their social impact presents a complex and demanding operational context.
This research investigated diverse Qld social enterprises to learn their current approaches and understandings of governance, business models and resilience. We used interviews and surveys to gather their perspectives and experiences to create a knowledge resource for new, emerging, and growth-focused SEs. The insights and wisdoms gathered from SEs revealed that having robust foundations of good governance, a sound business model and strategies for resilience were fundamental to their SEs sustainability and effective social impact. Learnings from those operating in this space provide a powerful guide for other SEs keen to create strong and reliable enterprises, to advance their social purpose and better serve their communities.
To ensure the reliability of this work, the research focused largely on the target group of SEs in the education, training and job-creation sector. The project used a mixed methods approach to invite SEs across the 12 Qld regions identified by The Qld Social Enterprise Council (QSEC), Social Traders and online searches, to participate in surveys and interviews. The information gathered enabled us to collate the various approaches, perspectives and current practices to governance, business models and resilience in their SEs. In doing so we were able to learn what they identified as effective governance practice, common challenges and constructive strategies for a sound business model and key factors for operational resilience.
The outcomes of this research deliver a useful knowledge resource for SEs in this sector by revealing their perspectives of governance, business models and resilience. These have been organised to offer SEs an understandable and accessible knowledge resource which shares current approaches and challenges, as well as knowledge and advice through insights and wisdoms at the end of each section.
Details
- Title
- Governance, Business Models and Resilience in Queensland Social Enterprises: Current Perspectives and Knowledge Insights for Growth and Sustainability
- Authors
- Lisa Daniel (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative IndustriesSuzi Jordan (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative IndustriesMargarietha J de Villiers Scheepers (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative Industries
- Additional notes
- Compiled for: The Qld Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training.
- Publication details
- 70 pages
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.25907/00857
- Grants
- Bench-marking Social Enterprise Governance, Business Models and Resilience for Sector Growth and Sustainability, 0980028740, Queensland Government (Australia, Brisbane)
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries; Student Services and Engagement
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991047794302621
- Output Type
- Report
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