Social Responsibility and Citizen‐Driven Innovation in Sustainably Mastering Global Socio‐Economic Crises

Abstract

Why solely rely on governmental action, private sector management or science as the principal providers of solutions to societal problems, if most citizens could become fully self‐reliant troubleshooters and problem solvers for the complex challenges and crises our societies face? Even though in times of acute crisis, top–down interventions may be necessary to keep a societal system viable, citizen‐driven innovation policy could be a better long‐term approach to society's challenges. We, as a society, should focus on the collaborative capabilities and creativity of ourselves; civic change processes should be based on a broad system understanding, strong values and citizen participation. To foster a climate inspiring collaboration across various levels of society, changes within governmental, political and private sector management policies must accompany this approach. Further, to equip citizens with the particular competences needed to successfully participate in citizen‐driven innovation when dealing with crises, educational programs from kindergarten to graduate school should include training in social responsibility and sustainable development. Combinations of both top–down interventions and citizen‐driven innovations will likely lead to more sustainable crises resolution than either approach alone. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.