Papers by Ushnish Sengupta
Frontiers in Sociology, 2022
There is an increased role Information and Communications Technology (ICT) plays in the achieveme... more There is an increased role Information and Communications Technology (ICT) plays in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper focuses specifically on SDG-11 “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” and how cities are increasingly incorporating ICT toward this goal. The public discourse on Smart Cities suggests economic, social and environmental benefits are possible through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). However, the increased deployment and use of digital infrastructure and processes in the name of sustainability and optimization itself is the focus of a growing body of critical literature on Smart Cities. This mini-review collates critical literature on digital infrastructures and processes related to SDG-11 and Smart Cities to identify areas of significance for further research. Although many Smart City projects discuss sustainability benefits, the distribution of benefits and risks across...
Frontiers in Sustainable Cities
This paper utilizes concepts from a critical social justice discourse on smart cities to identify... more This paper utilizes concepts from a critical social justice discourse on smart cities to identify factors behind resistance to new smart city initiatives from equity-seeking groups. The broader critical discourse is examined based on relevance to the eventual failure of the initiatives selected as case studies. It highlights institutional failure within government-supported initiatives due to the lack of consideration given to equitable distribution of risks and formal accountability mechanisms. It describes outcomes surrounding smart cities in which the benefits accrue to some groups within the city while risks increase for other groups. Finally, we examine the integration of “risk” as an adaptation to the existing practical mechanism of Community Benefit Agreements, for use of this framework to support value sensitive design approaches in future smart city initiatives.
Best practices for adoption of information technology in Social Economy organizations
Information technology has become an essential part of social economy organizations, but many soc... more Information technology has become an essential part of social economy organizations, but many social economy organizations have not been able to realize the full potential of benefits that have been achieved in other sectors through successful adoption of information technology. Research on successful technology adoption strongly indicates support for a broad participatory end user involvement approach throughout the technology development, selection and implementation process. The values of social economy organizations are also reflected in the development, selection, and use of information technology. Without careful consideration, technology selected and used by social economy organizations may not always be harmonious with the values of the organization, leading often to an inability to achieve desired outcomes. This paper presents a review of best practices in information technology adoption by social economy organizations, highlighting participatory and value based approaches.
Interventions économiques, 2016
The social economy is known by different names in different countries, such as the solidarity eco... more The social economy is known by different names in different countries, such as the solidarity economy, third sector, nonprofit sector, voluntary sector, and civil society. The scope of the social economy utilized here includes nonprofit, social enterprise and cooperative organizations, as described by Quarter, Mook and Armstrong (2009), and Mook, Whitman, Quarter & Armstrong (2015). The social economy including nonprofits, cooperatives and other social purpose organizations, is a significant part of the economy in Canada (Quarter, Mook and Armstrong, 2009), the United States (Mook, Whitman, Quarter & Armstrong, 2015) and globally (Bouchard & Rousselière, 2015). Quarter, Mook and Armstrong (2009) utilize a broad definition of the social economy, where the social economy includes Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) and Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs), unincorporated social organizations, and cooperatives. The social economy is very diverse in its organizational forms, as described by Mintzberg (2015). This particular document focuses on social economy organizations providing social services. Social economy organizations providing social services can be developed in different forms, including non-profit organizations, social enterprises, and cooperatives providing housing and childcare services. The common goals across different organizational forms are presented in the normative description of the social economy by McMurtry (2009). As many social economy organizations have common
Canadian journal of nonprofit and social economy research, 2015
This article seeks to understand Indigenous social enterprise in a “current state snapshot” and i... more This article seeks to understand Indigenous social enterprise in a “current state snapshot” and in a complex historical context. Specifically, the authors begin by placing into theoretical context social enterprises serving Indigenous communities. The framework for Indigenous social enterprise is related to theories of Indigenous entrepreneurship and “quadruple bottom line” organizations. The authors explain the role of culture as an under-researched element and as a critical component of Indigenous social enterprise. The article also highlights gender leadership of social enterprise in Indigenous communities. Finally, the article provides three case studies that exemplify Indigenous social enterprise in Canada. Dans cet article, les auteurs cherchent à comprendre les entreprises sociales autochtones dans leur état actuel ainsi que dans la complexité de leur contexte historique. Plus précisément, les auteurs commencent leur article en situant dans un contexte théorique particulier l...
The Journal of Entrepreneurial and Organizational Diversity, 2015
This paper describes the intersection of the cooperative movement and Indigenous communities in C... more This paper describes the intersection of the cooperative movement and Indigenous communities in Canada. The paper brings a lens of nation and race to an analysis of the cooperative movement in Canada, a perspective that has received limited attention in published literature. Cooperatives have had a dual role in Indigenous communities. The history of Indigenous cooperative development in Canada is inseparable from historical government colonization policies. In the current context, cooperatives have been utilized by Indigenous communities as a tool for economic and social development. Indigenous cooperatives demonstrate innovative combinations of "quadruple bottom line" business approaches, including financial, social, environmental and cultural goals. The extraordinary growth of Indigenous cooperatives in Canada, particularly in Inuit communities in the North, has also been supported by government policy implementation including financial and technical management support. A pan-Arctic comparison of government policies affecting development of cooperatives is provided as counter examples against the hypothesis of "cultural fit" between cooperatives and Indigenous communities. Ultimately, cooperatives are explained as an organizational form that can be co-opted for colonization or decolonization, capitalism or socialism, settler or Indigenous communities for their own specific purposes
Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 2022
This paper utilizes concepts from a critical social justice discourse on smart cities to identify... more This paper utilizes concepts from a critical social justice discourse on smart cities to identify factors behind resistance to new smart city initiatives from equity-seeking groups. The broader critical discourse is examined based on relevance to the eventual failure of the initiatives selected as case studies. It highlights institutional failure within government-supported initiatives due to the lack of consideration given to equitable distribution of risks and formal accountability mechanisms. It describes outcomes surrounding smart cities in which the benefits accrue to some groups within the city while risks increase for other groups. Finally, we examine the integration of "risk" as an adaptation to the existing practical mechanism of Community Benefit Agreements, for use of this framework to support value sensitive design approaches in future smart city initiatives.
Business in the Front, Crypto in the Back: How to Be a Blockchain Startup in Fintech
SSRN Electronic Journal
Canadian journal of nonprofit and social economy research
The book is based on, and grounded in, the five core competencies that are required for designati... more The book is based on, and grounded in, the five core competencies that are required for designation as a Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA). This text is required reading and the primary reference for the professional CVA credential awarded by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration, and is sure to gain widespread use and comment from volunteer administrators that will inform future editions.
Journal of Co-operative Studies, 2015
This paper describes the intersection of class, gender and race in the leadership of cooperatives... more This paper describes the intersection of class, gender and race in the leadership of cooperatives in North America. Movement of labour across North American borders changes the membership of cooperatives as well as the leadership and formation of cooperatives. The socioeconomic shifts that affect cooperatives are also accompanied by marginalisation of particular populations. Although women and racial minorities have made some advances in equity in cooperatives , racialized women in particular are not represented in leadership positions in cooperatives in proportion to membership in the broader population. In this context, international cooperative principles remain ideals to aspire to rather than a reality in practice. On an optimistic note, cooperatives continue to be more egalitarian organisations than other types of organisations and therefore have the potential for leading as positive role models, addressing the intersection of gender and race for other organisations to follow.
SSRN, 2019
Worldwide, there are many Indigenous communities who distrust the Natural Resources Industry due ... more Worldwide, there are many Indigenous communities who distrust the Natural Resources Industry due to historical economic, environmental, social, and cultural practices. These communities also often distrust National and Sub-National governments that regulate these industries. At the same time, long-term support and a license to operate from local Indigenous communities has become a critical and necessary requirement for Natural Resource Development. Blockchain constitutes an emerging technology that can be applied to mitigate trust issues, in contexts where there is distrust between decentralized stakeholders. In this chapter, we posit that those business processes that require participation by Indigenous communities, Natural Resources companies, and different levels of governments who lack trust in each other can be performed more effectively using blockchain technologies. The research method included interviews with Natural Resource industry and Indigenous entrepreneurship subject matter experts and a case study using an enterprise analysis tool, the Business Model Canvas. Ultimately, our research indicates that governance level control by Indigenous communities over the development and operation of blockchain platforms can be pivotal in rebuilding trust between stakeholders in Natural Resources development. In our findings, control of development and operation by Indigenous communities does not necessarily mean hands on end to end solution deployment, but involves continuous and genuine input into the requirements and direction of blockchain technology development. Blockchain technology additionally provides the prospective benefits of Smart Contract implementation, which provides an additional layer of assurance that agreements made by all stakeholders involved will be honored through an additional mechanism of software code.
SSRN, 2019
This document summarizes research supporting the implementation of blockchain technology in the f... more This document summarizes research supporting the implementation of blockchain technology in the food and agriculture industry in Ontario. First, our research indicates that blockchain technology based solutions are an existing and proven set of technologies, where it has already been proven that the source of food items can be identified in seconds where previous processes required days and weeks of effort. Second, we also describe how blockchain based supply chain provenance information has many more benefits than its current use for food safety and product recalls. Consumers are willing to pay premium prices for food based on reliable supply chain information that matches the consumers expectations and values. Costs related to blockchain technology based solution development and implementation will be relatively small in comparison to revenues generated through increased market share by organizations providing useful information to consumers, and other stakeholders in the food supply chain. Third, we recommend that costs for development of blockchain based solutions should also be distributed across stakeholders, and apportioned by the relevant industry associations. Implementation of smart contracts can be used to guarantee a pre-arranged distribution of revenues and costs across stakeholders across the food supply chain. A consortium approach will reduce individual organization related risks, and will ensure that complete end to end supply chains participate in blockchain based technology solutions. Our research indicates that adoption of blockchain technology in agriculture will be achieve critical mass earlier when the industry applies a consortium approach, in a regulatory environment that is supported by government. Finally, this report also makes recommendations relevant to the integration of blockchain technology with per item labelling, one of the core competencies and strengths of the project partner, Accu-Label Inc.
Instead of each organization attempting to navigate their own path through the different choices in technologies, we recommend a consortium approach where a blockchain technology based solution is selected and implemented through existing industry associations. Industry associations by design address the needs of their members, and therefore have a built-in relationship of trust with their members. This preexisting trust between industry associations and their members will enable pre-arranged distribution of costs and revenues related to implementation of blockchain technology between different stakeholders. Industry associations can pilot simpler low cost blockchain based solutions to reduce the risks developing more complex and expensive solutions. Blockchain based smart contracts provide an additional layer of assurance by pre-defining conditions of revenue/cost distribution, and automating the process.
Summary of Recommendations
1. Pilot different blockchain technologies to determine the best fit for the industry and organization.
2. Determine information that is of value to stakeholders in the supply chain, such as end consumers, and that they are willing to pay for.
3. Distribute the costs of blockchain technology development across different stakeholders in a consortium approach through industry associations.
4. Ensure that a robust mechanism exists to bridge information flows with physical food product flows.
The Future of Social Economy Leadership and Organizational Composition in Canada: Demand from Demographics, and Difference through Diversity
This paper describes the necessary and inevitable changes in the leadership of the Social Economy... more This paper describes the necessary and inevitable changes in the leadership of the Social Economy in Canada due to socio-economic and demographic trends. The first macroeconomic trend affecting the growing size of the social economy in Canada is growing income inequality. The second macroeconomic trend is a long-term period of fiscal restraint by different levels of government in Canada. Another trend is the changing demographics in Canada, which has two components, population growth from immigration and population growth in Indigenous communities. The trends are accompanied by critiques of the direction of the trend with respect to the social economy, arguing that the social economy is a contested space. One of the key conclusions is that the agency and leadership opportunities of marginalized and equity seeking groups in starting and maintaining social economy organizations is limited by current system structures. Bourdieu’s framework of capital, habitus and field are used as theoretical frameworks for analysis to argue that the existing support systems for starting and developing social economy organizations are designed to maintain existing power structures.
Groupe Convex: Measuring its Impact
The involvement of business schools in the social sector has traditionally been limited. This rou... more The involvement of business schools in the social sector has traditionally been limited. This roundtable will discuss the argument that some business schools are strongly engaged participants in the social sector through multiple channels, with positive longterm outcomes. For instance, business schools graduate MBAs to engage in a career in the social sector. Many of the business schools with the highest reputations have formal programs, classes and case studies dealing with issues in the social sector.
Community-University Research Partnerships: Reflections on the Canadian Social Economy Experience, 2011
Community-university partnership research is an important research paradigm emanating from the ro... more Community-university partnership research is an important research paradigm emanating from the roots of participatory research in the early 1970s (Hall, 1993). As with participatory research, it generally involves three main activities: research, education and action. It also seeks to democratize the knowledge process, and to situate the research process in the community, workplace or group affected by the knowledge generated (Hall, 1993; Stoecker & Bonacich, 1992). The Southern Ontario Social Economy Research Alliance (hereafter ...
Inner City Renovation: How a Social Enterprise Changes Lives and Communities. By Marty Donkervoor... more Inner City Renovation: How a Social Enterprise Changes Lives and Communities. By Marty Donkervoort. Halifax, NS: Fernwood Publishing, 2013. 137 pp. ISBN 9781552665817.
We describe and discuss three types of cases studies – teaching, research, and service learning –... more We describe and discuss three types of cases studies – teaching, research, and service learning – that are used in higher education in a variety of disciplines. The three types are compared to highlight when each type of case is appropriately used. We then examine the issue of the importance of accuracy of the three types. We conclude that we need focus less on the issue of factual accuracy but more on the purpose of each case type and how each captures an element of reality.
From Seva to Cyberspace: The Many Faces of Volunteering in India by Femida Handy, Meenaz Kassam, ... more From Seva to Cyberspace: The Many Faces of Volunteering in India by Femida Handy, Meenaz Kassam, Sharjah Jillian Ingold, and Bhagyashree Ranade is a useful addition to the literature on local volunteerism in different countries. The text is authored by scholars who have a deep understanding of volunteering in countries around the world, including the U.S., Canada, and India. They provide a deep analysis of the religious basis of volunteering in India, report on surveys about volunteering conducted across multiple countries (including India), and discuss case studies that highlight the theories and analysis presented in different chapters by Femida Handy, Meenaz Kassam, Sharjah Jillian Ingold, and Bhagyashree Ranade is a useful addition to the literature on local volunteerism in different countries. The text is authored by scholars who have a deep understanding of volunteering in countries around the world, including the U.S., Canada, and India. They provide a deep analysis of the religious basis of volunteering in India, report on surveys about volunteering conducted across multiple countries (including India), and discuss case studies that highlight the theories and analysis presented in different chapters
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Papers by Ushnish Sengupta
Instead of each organization attempting to navigate their own path through the different choices in technologies, we recommend a consortium approach where a blockchain technology based solution is selected and implemented through existing industry associations. Industry associations by design address the needs of their members, and therefore have a built-in relationship of trust with their members. This preexisting trust between industry associations and their members will enable pre-arranged distribution of costs and revenues related to implementation of blockchain technology between different stakeholders. Industry associations can pilot simpler low cost blockchain based solutions to reduce the risks developing more complex and expensive solutions. Blockchain based smart contracts provide an additional layer of assurance by pre-defining conditions of revenue/cost distribution, and automating the process.
Summary of Recommendations
1. Pilot different blockchain technologies to determine the best fit for the industry and organization.
2. Determine information that is of value to stakeholders in the supply chain, such as end consumers, and that they are willing to pay for.
3. Distribute the costs of blockchain technology development across different stakeholders in a consortium approach through industry associations.
4. Ensure that a robust mechanism exists to bridge information flows with physical food product flows.