Hybrid Business Organisations' Lessons for Environmental Social Work

Abstract

This research project aimed to find ways to increase the capacity of social workers to improve environmental wellbeing by examining hybrid organisations. It is important that social workers act to increase environmental wellbeing because environmental systems are being placed under severe pressure from pollution, accelerated loss of biodiversity, soil loss and climate change (Dylan, 2012; Gray et al., 2017; IUCN, 2015; Steffen et al., 2015; Zapf, 2010). From perspectives that recognise the innate value of the natural world this damage is immoral but even from an anthropocentric perspective the damage to the environment is exacerbating environmental injustice and reducing the ability of humans to survive (Boetto, 2019; Jones, 2011; McKinnon & Bay, 2013). This research project used a multi-case study method framed through the ontological and epistemological lens of critical realism (Bergene, 2007; Bhaskar, 2016; Easton, 2010; O’Gorman & MacIntosh, 2015; Vincent & O'Mahoney, 2018). Based on the theory of social learning (Lysack, 2009; McLeod, 2013; Sundel & Sundel, 2005) it was expected that people would learn how to act in more environmentally beneficial ways through interaction with other people. Initially the theory of social learning did appear as the mechanism to cause change, however as more detailed analysis was undertaken, it was found that social learning was not the only mechanism. The term hybrid organisation has no strict definition and is applied broadly (Barraket et al., 2010; Raynolds et al., 2014; Sabeti, 2011) but for the purposes of this project, hybrid organisations are defined as non-government organisations seeking to achieve environmental and social benefits rather than maximising financial profit. The three hybrid businesses examined for this project; Food Connect – linking urban consumers with local sustainable farmers, Substation 33 – recycling e-waste and Running Wild – assisting long term unemployed, were able to achieve both environmental and social benefits. The study was successful in identifying activities hybrid organisations undertake to improve the wellbeing of the environment and identifying how these activities improve environmental outcomes. Factors that supported environmental wellbeing assisted participants to act in environmentally beneficial ways and by involving people in environmentally beneficial activities participants demonstrated changes in their beliefs and practices. As well as these enabling factors, many barriers to participation in environmentally beneficial activities were also identified. The findings were then assessed from a social work perspective and possible applications for social work were identified. Social workers could seek to add the successful practices demonstrated by hybrid organisations to social work to increase the environmentally beneficial outcomes of social work practice. It also appears that the skills and knowledge of social workers could be helpful in overcoming barriers to increasing environmental wellbeing. The compatibility of the hybrid model with social work appears strong, as tasks considered important in defining social work were being undertaken in hybrid businesses. Being able to realise social benefits while achieving environmental benefits, strengthens the case for adding the environmentally beneficial activities to social work practice. In addition, people with training in the profession of social work could make a useful contribution to any organisation seeking to implement a hybrid business model.