Rethinking Resourcefulness: The Role of Systemic Inequalities in Organizational Resilience

In the context of increasingly frequent crises disrupting societal functions and local economies, local organizations aim to enhance the resourcefulness of the business community to improve resilience. While extensive research explores how organizations creatively utilize new or unexpected resources during crises, the impact of systemic inequalities on resource access and organizational resilience remains underexplored. These inequalities likely affect existing resilience efforts and require systemic approaches beyond individual organizations. This study examines the impact of such inequalities on resourcefulness in resilience efforts, focusing on a single, in-depth case of a local business organization in the South Pacific. By integrating literature on resilience and resourcefulness from critical geography and management studies, the study highlights systemic efforts that enhance resourcefulness and the systemic inequalities that constrain it. The findings contribute to the literature on organizational resilience and resourcefulness in crises by emphasizing the significant role of systemic inequalities in shaping resilience efforts and the potential for enhancing resilience through localized and systemic initiatives.