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2888. Community OR and Social Value: Empowering Marginalised Communities through Socially Trading Organisations

Invited abstract in session WC-24: Tutorial: Community OR and Social Value: Empowering Marginalised Communities through Socially Trading Organisations, stream Tutorials (and Workshops).

Wednesday, 12:30-14:00
Room: Esther Simpson 3.02

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Foteini Stavropoulou
Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University

Abstract

Community OR seeks to address complex socio-economic issues faced by socially disadvantaged populations or communities, considering their distinct needs, characteristics and aspirations. These issues often arise due to policy failures at regional or national levels, coupled with insufficient public funding. Community OR application areas include family support services, literacy and education, housing, community and urban planning, as well as humanitarian logistics. Multi-stakeholder and community engagement is key in community OR, ensuring that the voices and needs of marginalised groups are central to problem-defining and solving processes. This tutorial focuses on social value and Socially Trading Organisations (STOs). STOs are a distinct type of organisation whose primary purpose is to benefit their local community and often fill the gap left by retreating public services. Being social, charitable, or community-oriented organisations, STOs rely on volunteers and have limited access to funding. They are expected to demonstrate their social value to access resources. Social value, whilst generally referring to the positive impact or benefit activities have on individuals, communities, or society, remains a contested concept, with multiple definitions. In this session, we will delve into operationalising social value concepts and data requirements. This interactive discussion will encourage knowledge exchange and inspire new research avenues in Community OR for social good.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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