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Title A systems approach to understanding the perspectives in the changing landscape of responsible business in Scotland
ID_Doc 73755
Authors Weaver, MW; Crossan, K; Tan, HB; Paxton, SE
Title A systems approach to understanding the perspectives in the changing landscape of responsible business in Scotland
Year 2018
Published European Journal Of Operational Research, 268, 3
DOI 10.1016/j.ejor.2017.11.050
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present an application of Community OR (COR), using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), to help a fund manager to understand how to unlock and release more resources into communities. The problem area under investigation is a perceived lack of connectivity and alignment between and within public, for-profit, and the third sectors in Scotland. We argue that as the for-profit sector controls the majority of resources in most economies, they need to be part of any solution. However, we propose an approach that offers an alternative to the neoliberal business paradigm that has become prevalent in society and suggest that this must involve the inclusion of people and communities, in part represented by third sector organisations. We collected and analysed data from 145 participants and the outcome from this research was the 'Connect model', which was proposed to achieve the client's goal and to address a range of stakeholder challenges. In the SSM study, the 'investing in social capital' system was deemed a necessary early intervention, to bring together actors in an 'open system' that addresses the 'whole problem' area (launched as the 'Responsible Business Forum'). Three additional concepts emerged from the study that helped refine the 'Connect model' and have implications for theory and practice: 1) the co-creation of business-community value, 2) facilitated by a conduit, 3) that unlocks a 'shared space' based on a match of shared aspirations and values. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Author Keywords Community operational research; Responsible business practice; Soft systems methodology; Resource allocation; Co-creation
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
EID WOS:000431164000030
WoS Category Management; Operations Research & Management Science
Research Area Business & Economics; Operations Research & Management Science
PDF https://napier-repository.worktribe.com/preview/840815/Weaver%202017%20EJORs%20Resubmitted%205.5.17.pdf
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