Purpose

Delivering housing to resource-constrained communities (RCCs) is a complex process beset with difficulties. The purpose of this study is to use a complexity lens to examine the approach taken by a social enterprise (SE) in Australia to develop and manage a housebuilding supply chain for RCCs.

Design/methodology/approach

The research team used a longitudinal case study approach from 2017 to 2022, which used mixed methods to understand the phenomenon and gain an in-depth understanding of the complex issues and problem-solving undertaken by an SE start-up.

Findings

Balancing mission logic with commercial viability is challenging for an SE. The supply chain solution that evolved accommodated the particulars of geography and the needs of many stakeholders, including the end-user community and government sponsors. Extensive and time-consuming socialisation and customisation led to a successful technical design and sustainable supply chain operation.

Practical implications

Analysing supply chain intricacies via a complexity framework is valuable for scholars and practitioners, assisting in designing and developing supply chain configurations and understanding their dynamics. Meeting the housing construction needs of RCCs requires the SE to place societal focus at the centre of the supply chain rather than merely being a system output. The developed business model complements the engineering solution to empower a community-led housing construction supply chain.

Originality/value

This longitudinal case study contributes to knowledge by providing rich insights into the roles of SEs and how they develop and operate supply chains to fit with the needs of RCCs. Adding a contextual response dimension to an established complexity framework helped to explain how hybrid organisations balance commercial viability demands with social mission logic by amending traditional supply chain and governance practices. The case provides insights into supply chain configuration, needed changes and potential impacts when an SE as a focal actor inserts into a traditional for-profit construction supply chain.

中文翻译：

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资源有限社区的社会企业住房供应链：复杂性视角方法

目的

向资源有限的社区（RCC）提供住房是一个充满困难的复杂过程。本研究的目的是使用复杂性视角来研究澳大利亚一家社会企业 (SE) 为农村信用社开发和管理房屋建筑供应链所采取的方法。

设计/方法论/途径

研究团队采用了2017年至2022年的纵向案例研究方法，使用混合方法来理解这一现象，并深入了解SE初创企业所面临的复杂问题和解决问题的方法。

发现

对于SE来说，平衡任务逻辑与商业可行性是一项挑战。不断发展的供应链解决方案适应了地理位置的特殊性和许多利益相关者的需求，包括最终用户社区和政府赞助商。广泛且耗时的社会化和定制带来了成功的技术设计和可持续的供应链运营。

实际影响

通过复杂性框架分析供应链的复杂性对于学者和从业者来说很有价值，有助于设计和开发供应链配置并了解其动态。满足农村信用社的住房建设需求，要求社会责任将社会关注置于供应链的中心，而不仅仅是系统输出。开发的商业模式补充了工程解决方案，以增强社区主导的住房建设供应链的能力。

原创性/价值

这一纵向案例研究通过提供对社会企业的作用以及它们如何开发和运营供应链以满足农村信用社需求的丰富见解，为知识做出了贡献。在已建立的复杂性框架中添加上下文响应维度有助于解释混合组织如何通过修改传统的供应链和治理实践来平衡商业生存需求与社会使命逻辑。该案例提供了有关当SE作为焦点参与者插入传统营利性建筑供应链时的供应链配置、所需的改变和潜在影响的见解。