Published Oct 2024
Working in the impact economy
The impact economy is a rapidly evolving space that offers diverse opportunities to create positive change. This section delves into ideas and approaches that are relevant to social enterprise AND to others contributing to a new economy that puts people and planet first. From exploring power dynamics and decolonisation to thinking in systems and engaging communities, these resources will provide you with a broader view and equip you to make a meaningful impact through your work.
The different faces of social enterprise
This is an introduction to the diverse landscape of social enterprises, exploring various models such as non-profits, cooperatives, for-purpose businesses, and more. Through curated resources we aim to provide readers with an understanding of the many forms social enterprises can take and the various challenges and opportunities that different approaches present.
Resources
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This report by Social Enterprise Australia reveals that 12,033 social enterprises contribute $21.3 billion to Australia’s economy, employing over 206,000 people.
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This guide introduces 'impact enterprise' as a broad term for businesses creating positive social impact, focusing on core purpose over specific labels.
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The impact economy
Here, we explore the impact economy – what it is, its key components, and the different perspectives and movements that seeking to bring about a more sustainable and just economic system. We'll explore current trends and opportunities in the growing impact economy, providing insights into how individuals and organisations can navigate and contribute to this dynamic field.
Resources
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This video introduces Doughnut Economics, a framework by economist Kate Raworth that balances human needs with planetary health. Challenging traditional growth-focused economics, it emphasises well-being within ecological limits. The concept offers a compelling perspective on sustainable development and highlights the role of social enterprises in the impact economy, engaging stakeholders effectively.
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This article introduces the 'impact economy', a model integrating social, environmental, and economic outcomes. It explores its definition, relevance in the Anthropocene era, and components like impact-driven business, investment, and trade. Key topics include political leadership, innovation, impact measurement, and challenges such as inclusion and new economic indicators. A valuable primer for understanding how reshaped economic systems can address global challenges and better serve people, places, and the planet.
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Power, decolonisation and self-determination
Here we explore some of the critical issues of power dynamics, historical injustice, and privilege. We consider strategies for decolonising practice and enabling self-determination. We also explore concepts of community wealth-building and community-led governance.
Resources are coming soon.
Resources
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This blog delves into power through a systems change lens, emphasising its importance in tackling sustainability challenges. It redefines power as a relational dynamic rather than a static state, exploring shifts from “power over” to “power with” approaches. Key themes include privilege, systemic challenges like climate change and inequality, and the fractal nature of power across scales. Combining theoretical insights with practical strategies, it provides tools for minimising hierarchical power, fostering collaboration, and building capacity for transformative, inclusive decision-making.
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This article examines Indigenous perspectives on economics and self-determination in Australia, highlighting historical dispossession, economic exclusion, and alternative frameworks for wealth. It explores Indigenous values of communal wealth, economic sovereignty tied to land and spirit, and sustainable solutions.
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Thinking and working in systems
Systems thinking is an approach for understanding and working with complex challenges. Here, we’ll introduce the concept of systems thinking and its relevance for social enterprises. We'll explore frameworks that can help us navigate complex systems, as well as approaches for designing and implementing interventions that drive lasting change.
Resources
Systems change offers a way to address complex social issues like poverty and homelessness by moving beyond traditional, linear problem-solving. This blog contrasts ‘clock’ problems, which are solvable with structured solutions, with ‘cloud’ problems, requiring ongoing adaptations. It emphasises the need to shift from quick fixes to fostering resilience, healing relationships, and supporting long-term system health to address deep-rooted challenges effectively.
The Cynefin Framework guides leaders in matching actions to context by distinguishing different domains. It enables sense-making, helping leaders identify true complexity and respond effectively to challenges.
Ethical leadership
Here, we explore the principles and practices of ethical leadership, focusing on balancing impact, judgement, and personal values. Through the resources provided, we'll discuss how to cultivate a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability within organisations and communities.
Resources
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This blog introduces the concept of ethical leadership, where decisions prioritise integrity, societal impact, and the common good. It outlines six key principles—respect, accountability, service, honesty, justice, and community—that foster trust, equity, and collaboration in leadership practices.
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This article explores inclusive leadership, which fosters belonging, psychological safety, and respect within diverse teams. It highlights six traits—commitment, humility, bias awareness, curiosity, cultural intelligence, and collaboration—demonstrating how inclusive leaders drive team performance, decision-making, and collaboration through consistent behaviours.
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Participatory approaches
Engaging stakeholders, beneficiaries, and communities in decision-making is essential for fostering equitable and lasting change. Here, we examine the importance of participatory approaches, highlighting methods for involving diverse perspectives and ensuring shared ownership of strategies and actions.
Resources
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Theaster Gates, a potter by training and a social activist by calling, tells his story of transforming abandoned buildings to create community hubs that connect and inspire those who live there. A famously inspiring talk, it shows how problems can be reframed as opportunities, how to start with what you’ve got, how to make something out of nothing and how culture can be a catalyst for social transformation.
This MIT D-Lab article introduces participatory design as a powerful approach to fostering equity and creating sustainable solutions by engaging end-users as co-creators. It explores the benefits of building skills, trust, and ownership while producing durable, context-specific outcomes. By tailoring methods to different challenges, participatory design promotes inclusivity and addresses systemic inequities.
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Wellbeing - for you and others
Personal and collective wellbeing is a critical factor in the social enterprise sector. This section covers strategies for maintaining mental health and work-life balance while pursuing social impact, as well as approaches to fostering wellbeing within the communities and stakeholders that social enterprises serve.
Resources
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The Community Well, also known as the Social Sector Wellbeing and Resilience Hub, is an online resource designed to support charities, not-for-profits, and social enterprises. Created to address stress and burnout in the social sector, it offers curated tools, practical strategies, and advocacy for systemic change, fostering sustainable mental health and resilience practices.
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This podcast delves into the evolution of self-care from a radical feminist concept to a commercialised wellness industry, exploring why this shift has failed to curb rising burnout rates. Featuring Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, it challenges superficial wellness trends and offers practical, values-based strategies to redefine self-care for personal and collective empowerment.
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Technology for Good
Technology has the potential to amplify impact, from improving service delivery to enabling new forms of collaboration and innovation. Here, we explore technology that can be harnessed for good and how exponential technologies are likely to shape the world around us. The resources we share will also highlight important considerations for ethical and inclusive technology development and deployment in the social enterprise context.
Resources
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Connecting Up (Infoxchange)
Connecting Up helps Australian and New Zealand nonprofits strengthen their organisations through technology. This free platform, run by Infoxchange, offers discounted IT products, cloud services, hardware, software, and training by partnering with leading tech companies to empower social impact organisations.
This episode of the "Cleaning Up" podcast features Azeem Azhar, founder of Exponential View, discussing the role of exponential technologies like AI, renewable energy, and battery storage in addressing climate challenges. The conversation explores sustainable energy strategies, investments in cleaner energy, and the balance between technological progress and environmental stewardship.
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Coming soon
Understorey points to a range of quality resources that already exist across the sector—practical guides, tools, reports, case studies, and proven frameworks. We’re bringing them together in one place to make it easier for everyone to learn and exchange about social enterprise.
Do you know of a great resource we should include?
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