“Impact Creation through Community-Based Enterprises: A Configurational Analysis of Enabling Conditions”

Christian Rupietta

QMS/QUB

Abstract: This study investigates which local conditions enable community-based enterprises (CBEs) to be impactful. Advancing our limited understanding of the various contexts that support CBEs in tackling societal issues locally, we investigate enabling conditions across 77 CBEs driving the energy transition in their community. Through qualitative comparative analysis, we identify four condition configurations for impactful CBEs. Across these configurations, we reveal transferable mechanisms helping CBEs to create engagement (Opportunity- and Community-anchoring) and handle the absence of a supportive condition (Circumventing and Compensating). Our study suggests how CBEs can combine these mechanisms to create impact in various local contexts