Linking social entrepreneurship to community resilience: the mediating linkage of resource complementarity and role of entrepreneurial resilience in disaster contexts

Purpose This paper aims to advance theoretical understanding of the role of social entrepreneurship in fostering resource complementarity (RC), which is considered vital in times of crisis for building entrepreneurial resilience (ER) and community resilience (CR). Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a positivist philosophy and uses a deductive approach to develop its theoretical model and research hypotheses. Drawing on social capital theory, the model is tested using survey data collected through random sampling of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the Himalayan region, focusing on fostering community resilience via social entrepreneurship. A total of 388 responses were analysed using factor-based partial least squares (PLS)-structural equation modelling (SEM) with WarpPLS 8.0 commercial software. Findings The results support the research hypotheses. These findings indicate that social entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in RC during crises, thereby enhancing both ER and CR. Research limitations/implications This study offers a valuable contribution to social capital theory by elucidating the role of social entrepreneurship in fostering RC. It further demonstrates how these dynamics enhance both ER and CR during times of crisis. Practical implications The study provides valuable guidance to NGOs and policymakers involved in disaster relief operations, highlighting how social entrepreneurship can promote RC and strengthen both ER and CR. Originality/value This study addresses a gap in the academic literature at the intersection of two disciplines: humanitarian operations management and entrepreneurship. It explores how these fields converge to tackle the complex challenges associated with disaster relief operations.