Characteristics, Types, and Processes for the Construction of Social Innovations

Abstract

Social innovation seeks the transformation of society through the implementation of innovative actions (solutions) that satisfy needs more efficiently, while create and generate capabilities and relations within society, allowing it to act and filled its future needs. Social innovations can come from many sectors of society and any actor, opening the door to the participation of social entrepreneurs, both from the private sector and the third sector, intrapreneurs from the private and public sector, and groups of citizens who, through collective actions, generate processes of social change. The inclusion of actors from different sectors gives social innovation multiple forms and faces, resulting in several types of social innovations. This chapter aims to recognize what are the core elements of social innovation, its main characteristics during its execution process and the relations between sectors during a social innovation, and the means of creating this type of innovations.