Concept Of Social Innovation Research Articles

사회적 가치 측면 ESG 전략 활성화를 위한 디자인 역할

This paper proposes the role and direction of the design industry through a discussion of the context in which the ESG concept is expanding beyond the corporate management aspect for investment to the idea of social value. Through the literature review method, it was found that the pursuit of social value, which reflects the business management concept from the corporate perspective, is limited to the corporate competitive environment, such as CSR, CSV, and sustainable management strategies. This corporate-centred approach needs to be improved in addressing fundamental social issues. The insight is that CSR and CSV strategies are helpful in the areas related to sustainable management strategies. Still, social value strategies associated with identifying and solving social problems that are less relevant to companies require a new approach that reflects the concept of social innovation. In conclusion, we propose a social value strategy framework that evolves from traditional corporate management strategies to social value strategies. The intervention and role of design in the proposed framework emphasises the need for ‘System Design Thinking’ to look at the interconnectedness of all objects, rather than considering each element of ESG alone, to respond to social value change and drive sustainable economic innovation. It also suggests the importance of a design-led ESG strategy based on a ‘Design Thinking’ approach to identify experiences that reflect meaning and values among stakeholders in society.

The dynamic rural stayer – Analysing the dynamics of the staying process in rural areas

The staying process has been somewhat neglected in population geography. The purpose of the research is to shed light on the staying behaviour in rural places, the factors that influence the staying decision, as well as understanding how the impact of these underlying mechanisms on the development of rural areas. The article studies stayers in ages above thirty in four local communities in Ostrobothnia, Finland. The analysis is partly based on existing literature on the decision to stay, which highlights place attachment and structural constraints as decisive factors. This article contributes by emphasizing that local dynamics should also be considered a significant factor in the decision to stay, alongside these existing factors. Dynamics may be studied using the concepts of social innovation and collective capability, which reveal the local social culture and opportunities for social interaction as decisive both for the development of the local community as well as the decision to stay. While acknowledging the importance of spatial location and place character, the article concludes that dynamic rural stayers are shaped by both local history and social culture, as well as by their own activities.

Social Innovations in an Emergency Setting: Opportunities and Challenges for Youth Volunteers in Curbing the Spread of COVID-19 in Huye District, Rwanda

Purpose: Following COVID-19 at the close of 2019, countries have been in an emergency to contain the improvised danger to their citizens; Rwanda was no exception. The Government of Rwanda (GoR) turned to investing in different mechanisms to deal with the pandemic, including community-based interventions by youth volunteers, which is considered a social innovation to deal with the improvised societal challenge. This study investigated the motives, opportunities, challenges, and lessons that youth volunteers encountered while curbing the spread of the pandemic at the community level. Theoretical Concept: Social innovation concepts contribute to social change and provide actors with the means to meet societal challenges. The social innovation concepts were adopted as the theoretical concepts underpinning the study. Method: The study followed a descriptive qualitative design. Using key informants and in-depth interview techniques (KIIs), data were collected from 13 interviews with youth volunteers and opinion leaders among citizens of the Huye District of Rwanda who were selected using network and purposive sampling techniques. Interviews were uploaded in MAXQDA 2022 to visualize and map the data. Results: The results indicate that youth volunteers have encountered various challenges where a poor mindset had a big occurrence, followed by aggressive attitudes from beneficiaries of their interventions. However, despite the challenges, there were opportunities whereby youth volunteers showed a high level of patriotism for their country and learned new skills like public speaking. Implications: The study suggests that in similar future interventions, the government should mitigate the identified challenges and enhance the highlighted opportunities for the intervention to be more impactful.

The evolving role of development cooperation agencies in fostering social change: Japan international cooperation agency as a case study

ABSTRACT Innovation is becoming an important issue in international development cooperation. As the main driving force behind innovation had been the profit-seeking behavior of the firm, integrating innovation in the activities of international development cooperation requires a new framework. Here in this study, concept of social innovation was explored to create a framework so that role of each actor – government, private sector, civil society – are identified to facilitate collaboration to respond social challenges in developing countries, while international cooperation agency act as an intermediary. The validity of framework was tested using a project implemented in Africa and Japan by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The case demonstrates how innovation can be approached by international cooperation agency, acting as an intermediary, stimulating innovation not only in the recipient but also in the donor country.

Corporate social innovation: a systematic literature review and research agenda

PurposeThe new concept of corporate social innovation (CSI) has witnessed a steady growth in the business and management academic world over the past 20 years. Yet its adoption by corporations has been notably slow. This paper aims to operationalize the concept and develop a research agenda for CSI.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of the current literature in the recent past (1999–2020) has been embraced in this research. The review is based on 40 articles and offers a descriptive and a thematic analysis of the literature.FindingsThe authors demonstrate the development of the concept over time and identify 12 themes to assist in the institutionalization of CSI.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to provide an enhanced overview of the current state of CSI. The paper shows how a variety of different definitions of corporate social innovation have been used in the business and management literature. The findings provide a unique conceptual framework and a detailed research agenda for scholars seeking to examine CSI.

Defining social innovation for post-secondary educational institutions: a concept analysis

Education, research, and contribution to society through innovation are the three missions of post-secondary educational institutions. There is a gap in understanding the concept of social innovation for post-second educational institutions. A clear definition would: (a) guide institutional strategic direction and supports, (b) recognize and reward academic research in social innovation, and (c) enable accurate measurement of outcomes and impact of social innovation activities. To redress the definitional imprecision, Walker and Avant’s method was used to conduct a concept analysis of social innovation. Four multi-disciplinary databases were searched to identify 1830 records. Antecedents, defining attributes, and consequences of social innovation were extracted from 272 of these articles. Defining attributes were reconstructed to develop a new definition. For post-secondary educational institutions, social innovation was defined as the intentional implementation of a transdisciplinary initiative to address a social challenge enabled through collaborative action leading to new or improved capabilities and relationships with community to generate evidence-informed solutions that are more effective, efficient, just, and sustainable. With greater clarity about the definition of social innovation, post-secondary educational institutions can create strategic plans and allocate resources to fulfil the Third Mission. With an evidence-informed definition, post-secondary educational institutions can develop a measurement framework to demonstrate outcomes and impacts of social innovation.

Multinational Corporations and Social Innovation in Emerging Markets

The concept of social innovation has garnered increasing attention across various disciplines, driven by a growing recognition of the need to address complex societal challenges. However, despite the thorough examination of traditional innovation forms and their influence on global business practices, the scrutiny of social innovation within the realm of international business (IB) remains relatively nascent. This introduction delineates the scope of this focused issue and emphasizes the critical need to expand research on social innovation within IB, a field dedicated to enhancing social value and engagement among diverse stakeholders. This focused issue explores the catalysts and impacts of multinational corporations' (MNCs’) social innovation endeavours in emerging markets. Departing from the profit-centric focus of conventional innovation studies, social innovation emphasizes the redistribution of knowledge, the encouragement of discovery, and the facilitation of co-creation, thus posing a challenge to the traditional paradigms and logics of innovation theory. This introduction provides a concise review of current social innovation literature in IB, highlights the contributions made by the articles in this focused issue, and concludes by outlining directions for future research in the domain of social innovation in IB.

The impact of social innovation on environmentally friendly product involvement

PurposeInvolvement plays a crucial role in understanding consumer behavior. In recent years, the concept of social innovation has gained momentum, resulting in the development of eco-friendly products and initiatives to tackle societal issues. This trend is driven by consumers, who are increasingly aware of the social benefits of the products they buy. The present study aims to investigate how socially innovative, environmentally conscious consumers can influence their engagement with eco-friendly products.Design/methodology/approachResearchers aimed to investigate the “impact of social innovation on involvement in environmentally friendly products.” They selected active members of various environmental organizations operating in the country to conduct the study. Convenience sampling was used to reach out to these members, and the managers of these organizations sent an electronic questionnaire to all members' email addresses.FindingsThe study found that socially innovative, environmentally conscious consumers tend to be more interested in the symbolic meaning and pleasure of products, leading to a decrease in perceived risk and risk importance.Originality/valueThere are limited studies examining the relationship between social innovation and product innovation. Therefore, the novelty of this research lies in its exploration of the relationship between these two concepts. Unlike previous studies, this research found a negative relationship between the dimensions of risk importance and risk probability. This result was interpreted as environmentally friendly products being sensitive to public welfare and not being perceived as risky by environmentalists.

Cohousing as a form of social innovation: Challenges in a new geopolitical situation in Poland


 
 
 This article addresses the topic of cohousing, understood as a form of housing that promotes a lifestyle that places greater emphasis on social cohesion and creates conditions to ensure that all residents have the opportunity to meet basic social needs. In this view, cohousing coincides with the concept of social innovation. The aim of the article is to present the idea of cohousing as an example of social innovation and an attempt to determine its significance in the process of integration of Ukrainian citizens in Poland after February 24, 2022. The paper is theoretical in nature, and the method of analyzing foundational data was applied, which included publications, reports and research on the problem addressed. In the first part, the issue of social innovation was presented, the idea of cohousing was presented and its features as a form of social innovation were pointed out. The second part highlighted the importance of cohousing in the integration process of Ukrainian citizens in Poland after February 24, 2022. The results of the research showed that within the framework of the available solutions for the current situation, it is worth reaching for new forms of cohousing that enable active inclusion of people with refugee experience in decision-making processes and foster closer neighbourly contacts, neighbourly control, a sense of security and opportunities for social support.
 
 

Bridging the gap between servitization and social innovation.

This paper explores the social implications of servitization and unveils the connections between servitization and social innovation. To substantiate these claims, the research elucidates three core concepts of social innovation, namely processes, instruments, and outcomes. The processual view of social innovation examines how societal changes unfold; the instrumental view focuses on tools and mechanisms driving these changes; and last the outcomes view analyses the resultant benefits. The paper reviews systematically the literature on the social impacts of servitization and, based on the mentioned views uses the literature findings to inductively develop three propositions and demonstrate that servitization can represent a form of social innovation, thus capable of profoundly reshaping industrial societies and contributing to progress and people's well-being. In sum, the paper shows the social implications and benefits related to servitization of manufacturing firms and suggests the research priorities in this domain for servitization scholars.

Transforming Education: Understanding How Social Innovation Makes a Difference in Education Sector

In the face of persistent educational challenges and the evolving demands of the 21st century, social innovation has emerged as a beacon of hope, offering a transformative approach to reimagine and reshape education systems. This paper delves into the concept of social innovation in the education sector, elucidating its defining characteristics, examining its profound benefits, and acknowledging the challenges it presents. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, the paper showcases compelling case studies and examples of successful social innovations that have revolutionized educational landscapes. Education, the cornerstone of societal progress, faces persistent challenges in the 21st century. Social innovation emerges as a beacon of hope, offering a transformative approach to reshape education systems. Social innovation in education aims to address social needs, fosters collaborative partnerships, and prioritizes sustainability. It seeks to dismantle educational inequities and empower all learners to reach their full potential. The benefits of social innovation include enhanced learning outcomes, championed equity and inclusion, and preparation for the future. However, sustainability, scalability, measurement, and collaboration pose significant challenges. A growing body of research showcases successful social innovations that have revolutionized educational landscapes. Embracing social innovation can pave the way for a more equitable, effective, and future-ready education system.

Innovación social: Un enfoque integral para el desarrollo sostenible

The objective of this article is to analyze the concept of social innovation and its relevance in addressing contemporary challenges. Highlighting the importance of community participation, sustainability and creativity from a comprehensive approach to sustainable development, the variety of interpretations of the concept is highlighted, from those focused on technological applications to those that emphasize its social dimension. To do this, a review of primary and secondary sources is carried out for the analysis of social innovation from a comprehensive perspective. Different definitions and approaches to social innovation are explored, as well as its fundamental principles and implementation methodologies. In addition, case studies that exemplify the impact of social innovation in various sectors, such as education, health and the environment, are discussed. The challenges and opportunities for social innovation are also analyzed, highlighting the importance of an axiological perspective that recognizes social and cultural values ​​in its evaluation.

Grassroots innovation and social innovation in perspective.

This article provides a comprehensive review of social innovation and grassroots innovation over the last 5 years, offering a detailed analysis of both concepts. This study explores the integration of grassroots innovation and social innovation based on an extensive literature review. It examines five dimensions within the literature: key fields, disciplines, actors, geographical areas and theoretical frameworks. Despite significant research in recent decades, there is a notable gap of literature devoted to grassroots innovation and its position within discourse of social innovation. This paper explores the differences and similarities between the concepts of social innovation and grassroots innovation in order to better understand the use of both concepts, the cases in which they are used and possible complementarities. The main findings of the literature on combining the concepts of social innovation and grassroots innovation focus on social enterprises, while research on grassroots innovation as a stand-alone concept focuses on community-led initiatives, civil society organisations, cooperatives and local leaders. Geographically, India plays a very important role in grassroots and social innovation research, followed by Brazil and Spain. In terms of theoretical approach, the combination of social innovation and grassroots innovation has a strong sociological focus, emphasising theories of social practice, collective action, solidarity and community. In contrast, the theoretical frameworks of grassroots innovation are more anchored in power relations and socio-technical transitions, including, for example, resistance to innovation. Grassroots innovation offers practical insights into understanding innovation through the lenses of grassroots and community-based social change. Similarly, social innovation can contribute to the debate on grassroots innovations by understanding not only the agency of actors, but also the innovation ecosystem, actors and types of innovation. Further empirical research on the understanding and application of both concepts in the global North and South in academic discourse offers great potential, therefore potential research questions have been raised here for further investigation.

Social innovation and global citizenship: Guiding principles for sustainable, just and democratic energy transition in cities

In this paper, we examine the relationship of global citizenship to social innovation and propose a set of guiding principles to facilitate sustainable, just and democratic energy transitions in cities. We applied a participatory research approach beginning with interviews with stakeholders with expertise in citizenship, participation, or energy research and policy to develop search criteria, which were used to create a shortlist of 20 European citizen-driven energy projects. The criteria were: 1) democratic governance; 2) civil empowerment and capacity building; 3) human rights approach; 4) diversity of actors; and 5) sustainability. Key informants with relevant expertise were asked to score the 20 cases based on the search criteria, leading to a final selection of six exemplar cases from across Europe. Highlights from these initiatives included: empowerment of young community members in making decisions about the city's climate change response (Manchester), including citizen board members as regulators of energy partnerships (Viladecans), democratising activities through open voting (Leuven), and enabling community members to decide how to spend the surplus from collective energy purchases (Brixton). We argue that the integrated application of the global citizenship and social innovation concepts reveals a “sweet spot” at the interface between them that aids practical application. Social innovation perspectives can help depoliticise ideological positions around energy by bringing together “communities of makers”, while global citizenship concepts help to orient innovative proposals more clearly around social justice and environmental objectives. The five criteria are proposed as guiding principles to aid city authorities in energy transition contexts.

Yoksullukla Mücadele Etmede ve Sürdürülebilir Kalkınmaya Ulaşmada Sosyal İnovatif Uygulamaların Rolü

Combating poverty and sustaining development is one of the most significant challenges humanity needs to overcome. Governments, local institutions, non-profit organizations, academia, and companies are making great efforts to alleviate poverty and ensure sustainable development. However, these efforts cannot be reached the desired level in changing and transforming the world. Therefore, these problems, which were addressed in conventional ways, must be considered and resolved through “innovative approaches”. The aim of this study is to address the concept of social innovation, which can be used as a solution to social problems in general, and as a tool in combating poverty and regional development in particular, with examples of successful applications. In this sense, firstly, the concept of social innovation is discussed in the context of poverty alleviation and sustainable development through qualitative research. This study also evaluates the role of social innovation practices and solutions in poverty reduction and sustainable rural development by analyzing two cases such as the KIVA microcredit system and community-supported agriculture. These cases have been examined in terms of innovativeness, sustainability, social impact, target audience, and institutional structure. As a result, it revealed that the cases mentioned above contribute to poverty reduction and regional development in terms of innovation, target audience, sustainability and social impact.

Territorial human capital and the economic development of territories: Study socially innovative aspects of cooperatives in the prefecture of Agadir Ida Outanane

This paper is situated within territorial economics, with the noble aim of elucidating the intricate interplay between territorial human capital and the economic advancement of the esteemed Agadir Ida Outanane prefecture, particularly within the social innovation concept. It endeavors to navigate the nuances of theoretical intricacies and empirical analysis tools, all in a concerted effort to address the paramount inquiry: "To what extent can territorial human capital serve as a propelling force for the development of the Agadir Ida Outanane area, and how might social innovation contribute thereto?" In pursuit, we have adopted a methodological approach rooted in deductive reasoning and underpinned by a post-positivist paradigm. Through a judicious synthesis of theoretical constructs and observed realities, we have deftly formulated a hypothetical model that interweaves the concepts of territorial human capital, social innovation, and economic valorization of the territory. This model has been tested on a dataset comprising 180 operational cooperatives in the revered Agadir Ida Outanane area. The discerning findings of this inquiry concur with the existence of substantial and noteworthy contributions among the multifarious concepts under scrutiny.

Community inclusion in tourism development: young people’s social innovation propositions for advancing sustainable tourism

ABSTRACT Different community groups and members hold varying power positions in tourism development discussions and decision-making. From the sustainable development perspective, tourism planning and management should involve a diversity of voices, including also those with limited political or economic power. This article focuses on relatively little studied young people’s views on tourism development. The article uses the concept of social innovation for analysing local youths’ needs and propositions for transforming tourism towards sustainability. Empirical data is derived from ethnographic research and a design anthropology-oriented workshop for young adults in Kemi, northern Finland. At the workshop, social innovations were used to imagine alternative futures for local life and the role of tourism in development. The participants co-created three social innovation propositions for enhancing the flow of information regarding tourism, developing activities, liveliness and spaces to hang out, and attracting passing-by visitors. These propositions reflect sustainability transformations that recognise young adults’ inclusion in tourism planning, create more inclusive services for locals, and enhance diverse, locally grounded, and socially valuable tourism. Even though the propositions are dependent on existing power structures, they challenge the status quo of tourism planning and development.

Local intermediaries in energy transitions: bridging the gap from niche level to changing the regime

The energy transition represents a complex and longterm process taking place at different governance levels and representing a set of policies and structural changes. The local level, especially cities and regions, can be considered as a central level for the implementation of energy transitions. These transitions are only in part technical ones, but essentially embedded in, based on, and consisting of changes in social practices and in the organization of societal problem-solving transforming infrastructure governance. This paper demonstrates one central form of organizational change in local energy transition strategies: The creation of local intermediaries, defined by their function and position in between other actors. Based on a case study in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, and referring to the multi-level perspective on socio-technical transitions and the concept of social innovation, it analyses how systemic intermediaries can e.g. bridge the gap from niche to changing the regime.

How does social innovation generate social impact? Contributions from a meta-synthesis

Objective: To analyze how social innovation actions and practices presented in case studies, generate social impact. Methodology: The meta-synthesis was adopted, which, by identifying empirical research (case studies) and establishing comparative analyses, revealed new possibilities for investigation, deepening and theoretical expansion. Results: The results show the heterogeneity of the concept and actions of social innovation, identify its promoters, driving and/or enabling elements, actor networks, and forms of social impact, and link social innovation and impact to other approaches and opportunities for innovation. Theoretical/Methodological contributions: The study was able to synthesize preponderant elements to reach social impact from social innovation actions, themes little explored in an integrated way. In addition, it explored the meta-synthesis method, reinforcing the application of this research strategy as a tool for building theories and identifying findings that surpass the original conclusions of primary case studies. Originality: Given the differences in social impact detection and measurement, and the lack of a standard for social impact generation through social innovation, this study summarizes empirical findings, categorizes, and identifies aspects and elements that condition social impact generation through social innovation. Social / Management Contributions: In addition to portraying conceptual aspects, drivers and forms of social impact, this study offers a discussion on the integration between driving agents, boosters and networks of actors that can help practitioners of social innovation, public and social managers in stimulating and generation positive results (social impact) from this innovation.

The nursing home as a hub: boundary work as a key to community health promotion.

This article considers ways in which a nursing home can come to serve as a hub for community health promotion. Inspired by the term 'boundary crossing' (Akkerman and Bakker. Boundary crossing and boundary objects. Rev Educ Res 2011;81:132-69), we suggest the notion of 'boundary work' to illustrate how a nursing home arranges community activities and includes a wide range of participants. In health research, a 'hub' refers to a space in which activities and expertise are 'bound together' over time. The concept of the hub indicates that health organizations have the power to become centres for health promotion by initiating new collaborations and opening up initiatives in two-way processes with the local community. The term 'boundary work' supports a perspective that dissolves organizational, professional and conceptual boundaries and directs attention towards social inclusion as a key to community health promotion in and beyond institutionalized elderly care. The article is based on a 4-year-long practice-based study of social innovation in elderly care in Norway and Denmark. Empirical illustrations show boundary work in which a nursing home comes to serve as a hub. We discuss a flexible framework for understanding, mapping and planning participatory approaches for health and wellbeing (South et al. An evidence-based framework on community-centred approaches for health: England, UK. Health Promot Int 2019;34:356-66) and briefly connect these approaches to the concept of social innovation as a possible future research path.