子ども食堂の運営戦略はいかにして定められるのか : 組織と環境の相互作用の視点から

In recent years, low-cost or free “children's cafeterias” that mainly target local children have been rapidly expanding throughout Japan. The purpose of this study is to examine how the operational strategies of children's cafeterias are defined from the perspective of the interaction between the organization and the environment. As a research method, an interview survey was conducted with representatives of children's cafeteria operations, and analysis was conducted based on the “Resource Dependency Theory” and the “New Institution Theory. The results revealed that operational strategies that appear to be “voluntary” are in fact influenced by the external environment through specific mechanisms. In determining their operational strategies, operators of children's cafeterias not only passively adapt to their environment, but also actively control it. In addition, issues such as “the tension that exists between individual children's cafeteria practices and the concept of ‘children's cafeteria’” and “the mismatch between social awareness and charitable resources regarding ‘poverty’” emerged as characteristics unique to children's cafeterias. Based on these findings, this study suggests future directions for research on private welfare activities.