Abstract
In this paper, we apply the established ‘neo-contingency approach’ from organizational theory into the field of community-led social ventures which, by necessity, have to be embedded within their local community context in order to achieve their social mission. Through our analysis of three heterogeneous case studies from around rural Japan, we show how the external environment and contingencies affect leadership style and the pattern of social capital, influencing the type of community development apparent in each setting. We propose that local contingencies, such as external environment, leadership and social capital, play a role in influencing organizational culture in community-led social ventures and, indeed, the form that the social venture takes. We conclude by arguing that if the neo-contingency approach is to fulfil its potential then further theoretical and conceptual development is required.
Résumé
Dans cet article, nous appliquons « l’approche de la néocontingence » existante de la théorie organisationnelle dans le domaine de projets sociaux menés par des communautés qui, par nécessité, doivent être intégrés au contexte de leur communauté locale pour réaliser leur mission sociale. Grâce à notre analyse de trois études de cas hétérogènes du monde rural japonais, nous montrons comment l’environnement extérieur et les contingences affectent le style de leadership et la structure du capital social en influençant le type de développement communautaire apparent dans chaque contexte. Nous proposons que les contingences locales, telles que l’environnement extérieur, le leadership et le capital social jouent un rôle pour influencer la culture organisationnelle dans les projets sociaux menés par les communautés et, en fait, la forme que prend le projet social. Nous concluons en affirmant que si l’approche de la néocontingence est de réaliser son plein potentiel, un développement théorique et conceptuel est nécessaire.
Zusammenfassung
In diesem Beitrag wenden wir den bewährten „Neo-Kontingenz-Ansatz“aus der Organisationstheorie auf von einer Gemeinschaft geleitete soziale Unternehmen an, welche zur Erfüllung ihrer sozialen Aufgabe notwendigerweise in den Kontext ihrer lokalen Gemeinschaft eingebunden werden müssen. Mittels einer Analyse dreier heterogener Fallstudien in ländlichen Regionen in Japan zeigen wir, inwieweit sich das externe Umfeld und die Kontingenzen auf den Führungsstil und die Struktur des sozialen Kapitals auswirken und somit die Art der Gemeinschaftsentwicklung im jeweiligen Rahmen beeinflussen. Wir glauben, dass lokale Kontingenzen, wie beispielsweise das externe Umfeld, die Führung und das soziale Kapital, die Organisationskultur der von einer Gemeinschaft geführten Sozialunternehmen sowie auch die Form des Sozialunternehmens beeinflussen. Abschließend behaupten wir, dass eine weitere theoretische und konzeptionelle Entwicklung erforderlich ist, wenn der Neo-Kontingenz-Ansatz sein Potenzial erfüllen soll.
Resumen
En el presente documento, aplicamos el probado “enfoque de neo-contingencia” de la teoría organizativa al campo de las empresas sociales lideradas por la comunidad que, por necesidad, tienen que ser incorporadas dentro del contexto de su comunidad local para lograr su misión social. Mediante un análisis de tres estudios de casos homogéneos del Japón rural, mostramos cómo el entorno y las contingencias externas afectan al estilo de liderazgo y al patrón de capital social, influyendo en el tipo de desarrollo comunitario patente en cada escenario. Proponemos que las contingencias locales, tales como el entorno externo, el liderazgo y el capital social, desempeñan un papel influyendo en la cultura organizativa en empresas sociales lideradas por la comunidad y, de hecho, en la forma que toma la empresa social. Concluimos argumentando que si el enfoque de neo-contingencia tiene que cumplir su potencial, entonces se requiere un desarrollo teórico y conceptual adicional.
摘要
社区领导的社会企业为了实现自己的社会使命必须要根植于本地社区中, 在本文中,我们在社区领导的社会企业中运用已经建立起来的“新权变法”这一组织机构理论, 通过对三个来自日本农村的异构案例进行研究,说明外部环境和突发事件对领导风格和社会资本模式的影响,同时,在每种情况下,对社区的显而易见的发展类型也有明显影响。我们建议,外部环境、领导状况和社会资本等当地突发事件影响社区领导的社会企业的文化以及社会企业采取的形态。我们认为, 新权变法要充分发挥其潜在作用, 还需要进一步在理论上和概念上获得发展。
ملخص
في هذا البحث نطبق “منهج الطوارئ الجديدة ˝الذي أنشئ من النظرية التنظيمية في مجال المشاريع الإجتماعية التي يقودها المجتمع المحلي الذي، بحكم الضرورة، يجب أن يكون جزء لا يتجزأ ضمن سياق المجتمع المحلي من أجل تحقيق رسالته الإجتماعية. من خلال تحليلنا لثلاث دراسات لحالة غير متجانسة من مختلف أنحاء اليابان الريفية، نحن نبين كيف أن البيئة الخارجية والطوارئ تؤثر على أسلوب القيادة ونمط رأس المال الإجتماعي، الذي يؤثر على نوع تنمية المجتمع الظاهر في كل موقع. نقترح أن الطوارئ المحلية، مثل البيئة الخارجية، القيادة ورأس المال الإجتماعي، تلعب دور في التأثير على الثقافة التنظيمية في المشاريع الإجتماعية التي يقودها المجتمع المحلي و، بالفعل ٬النموذج الذي يأخذه المشروع الإجتماعي. نحن نختم بالقول أنه إذا كان منهج الطوارئ الجديدة هو تحقيق إمكانياتها ثم علاوة على ذلك مطلوب تطوير النظرية ومفاهيمها.
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Acknowledgments
Financial support for undertaking fieldwork was received from the Regional Industry Research Center, Tohoku University. This study has also been supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 25285111.
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Roy, M.J., Sato, K. & Calò, F. Further Limits to Institutional Isomorphism? Introducing the ‘Neo-contingency Approach’ to the Field of Community-Led Social Ventures. Voluntas 26, 2536–2553 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-014-9529-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-014-9529-z