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Resource Bricolage for Inclusive Employment: A Case Study of Social Entrepreneurship to Support Parents of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Supporting employment for people with intellectual disabilities is essential for their social inclusion and psychological well-being. Previous studies have explored how social enterprises facilitate employment for this group. However, relatively little attention has been given to family-driven social enterprises, particularly the behavioral motivations and mechanisms through which parents create inclusive work opportunities for their adult children. This exploratory single-case study investigates why and how parents engage in social entrepreneurship to support individuals with intellectual disabilities. Findings show that parents dynamically mobilize human and material capital, driven by both egoistic and altruistic motives. Meanwhile, the enterprise gradually evolved from an informal initiative into a more structured organization. Employment inclusion emerged as the primary outcome, enabled by knowledge acquisition and capacity building, with social empowerment as a broader benefit. The study contributes by identifying dual parental motivations, extending resource bricolage to family-driven social entrepreneurship, and reconceptualizing bricolage as a strategic management of human and material capital.

Source: Behavioral Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/bs16020274

Authors: Zengke An, Qianru Zhang, Yi Liu, Jingwen Lv

Institutions: Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Macau University of Science and Technology, Shandong University

Language: English

Topic: Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences

Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Reduced inequalities, No poverty

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,654