Prosocial Motivation as a Driver of Social Innovation in the UAE

Abstract

One important domain of nonmarket‐driven innovation is social innovation. Defined as “new ideas that have the potential to improve either the quality or the quantity of life,” social innovation stands in stark contrast to business innovation that focuses on creativity with the intention of making a profit. Drawing on research on motivation, creativity, rentier mentality, and Islamic work ethics, this article takes a motivational approach to social innovation and advances a proposition that prosocial motivation is of particular importance in fostering social innovation in the context of the UAE. We argue that due to policies that grant nationals high financial stability and affluence, UAE locals are less likely to be driven by extrinsic motivation, but rather by intrinsic motivation. We propose that enhancing their prosocial motivation will have a synergetic effect with their intrinsic motivation and therefore lead to higher social innovation. This article extends the literature on prosocial motivation, social innovation, and social entrepreneurship by identifying a geographical/cultural region where the motivational basis for social innovation is amplified. Significantly, this article questions common assumptions about a rentier mentality and proposes a path to leverage social innovation. Implications for policymakers and practitioners are discussed.

Configuration of prosocial motivations to enhance employees’ innovation behaviors: From the perspective of coupling of basic and applied research

“… Li and Bai (2015) considered the difference between employees’ prosocial motivation and intrinsic motivation and found that prosocial motivation could amplify the positive impact of employees’ internal motivation on their creativity. But when the policies endow the employees with a stable environment and make them feel abundant, employees are less likely to be driven by prosocial motivation, but by internal motivation ( Jeong and Alhanaee, 2020 ). Zee et al (2020) paid attention to explicit and implicit characteristics of prosocial motivations and found that employees with explicit prosocial motivations show more creativity.…”

Changing Behaviours and Its Theories to Achieve the Desire for Entrepreneurship in Future Generations in the UAE and Gulf Region

“…For others, the primary motivation is to maintain or increase personal income. Special incentives to start a business need to meet the need for independence; this is often the case for individuals, especially UAE women, who, despite having a permanent job in the public sector, decide to start a company to be their boss (Jeong & Alhanaee, 2020).…”

الاسهام النسبی للشخصیة الأخلاقیة وأنماط الدافعیة وما وراء السلوک فی السلوک الاجتماعی الإیجابی لدی طلاب الجامعة

“…(Ferguson et al,2015;Gopalan, et al,2017;Howard et al,2020 (Ryan, Deci, 2000;Deci & Ryan, 2008, 182;Peetz & Milyavskaya, 2021) . & Deci, 2000;Deci & Ryan, 2008, 182;Hardly et al,2015;Ma et al, 2017;Smokrovic et al,2018;Howard et al,2020;Jeong & Alhanaee, 2020;Sayanagi et al,2021;Shin & Hur, 2021;Peetz & Milyavskaya, 2021) . & Deci, 2000;Deci & Ryan, 2008, 182;Hardly et al,2015;Ma et al, 2017;Smokrovic et al,2018;Howard et al,2020;Jeong & Alhanaee, 2020;Sayanagi et al,2021;Shin & Hur, 2021;Peetz & Milyavskaya, 2021) .…”

“…(Ajzen, 1991;Ajzen, 2011Ajzen,2015 . (Hardly et al, 2015;Ma et al, 2017;Smokrovic et al,2018;Jeong & Alhanaee, 2020;Hands,2020;Sayanagi et al,2021;Shin & Hur, 2021). (Schraw, & Dennison, 1994 ;McMahon & Good, 2016;Moeller,2016;Sheikholeslami, & Hassan Nia, 2020 (Caruso & Mayer, 1998;Evans & Revelle, 2008;Alloway et al,2016 ;Suseno, 2019 (Reimer et al,2009;Hannah et al,2011;Matherne et al,2017;Ding et Winterich et al, 2013er,2014 Patrick, et al,2018;Gotowiec & van Mastrigt,2019;Zeng et al,2020;Zhou et al,2021 (Simões & Calheiros, 2016 ;Umino & Dammeyer, 2016;Abdullah& Rahman, 2018;Abdullah et al,2019;Kaya, 2020;Fischer et al,2020) .…”