Shaping Social Innovation by Social Research

Howaldt, Jürgen; Kopp, Ralf

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-32879-4_3

Cited by 52 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The understanding of the dynamics of social innovation in general, and social-ecological innovation in particular (Olsson and Galaz 2012), is that growing and competing theories are proliferating (Howaldt and Kopp 2012). It is our contention in this paper that social innovation may play a critical role in achieving new pathways to sustainability, but we argue that such transformation may not keep pace with the extent and pace of change implied by the Anthropocene concept.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

The concept of the Anthropocene as a game-changer: a new context for social innovation and transformations to sustainability

Olsson¹,

Moore²,

Westley³

et al. 2017

E&S

150

138

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ABSTRACT. After tracing the antecedents of the concept and considering its intersection in social innovation research, we put forward the argument that the Anthropocene concept points to three areas of thought that are strategically imperative and must be accelerated if social innovation theory and practice is to prove transformative and respond to the challenges associated with the Anthropocene. First, we contend that the current debate on social innovation for sustainability lacks a deeper focus on human-environmental interactions and the related feedbacks, which will be necessary to understand and achieve large-scale change and transformations to global sustainability. Many innovations focus on only the social or the ecological, and we believe a more integrated approach will be needed moving forward. Second, social innovation research must confront the path-dependencies embedded within systems, and we propose that the act of "bricolage," which recombines existing elements in novel ways, will be essential, rather than single variable solutions, which currently dominate social innovation discussions. Finally, we put forward the idea that confronting the cross-scalar nature of the Anthropocene requires revisiting both the scope and temporal nature of social innovations that are most typically focused upon by scholars and funders alike. We believe the concept of the Anthropocene creates new opportunities for social innovation scholars to imagine new possibilities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

The concept of the Anthropocene as a game-changer: a new context for social innovation and transformations to sustainability

Olsson¹,

Moore²,

Westley³

et al. 2017

E&S

150

138

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Therefore the social innovation perspective elevates academic discourses such as sociology to the center of the innovation debate (Moulaert 2009;Howaldt 2005). Indeed some observers argue that the post-industrial innovation paradigm is sociologically founded (Howaldt and Kopp 2012; see also Hochgerner 2012 who extends common types of innovation with Parson's structural categories). Complexity theory may be one 448…”

Section: Innovation: the European Journal Of Social Science Research 447mentioning

confidence: 96%

Social innovation, an answer to contemporary societal challenges? Locating the concept in theory and practice

Grimm

Fox

Baines

et al. 2013

Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research

237

192

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Social innovation discourses see in social challenges opportunities to make societies more sustainable and cohesive through inclusive practices, coproduction and proactive grassroots initiatives. In this paper we are concerned first that the concept has been stretched in so many directions that it is at breaking point. We illustrate this by documenting the varied uses of social innovation in different academic and policy discourses. Second, we assume that, if social innovation is to be a useful concept for policy-makers, then it must tell us something about what adjustments are needed to develop an effective political economy that is social innovation ready. Finally, we argue that what is needed is more theoretical and empirical work to help social innovation to develop into an effective policy tool.

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“…If we follow Tarde (2009) in pointing out the social embeddedness of any invention in a dense network of imitation streams, then social innovations are first and foremost ensemble performances, requiring interaction between many actors. As the opening of the innovation process to society is a key characteristic of the new innovation paradigm (Howaldt & Kopp, 2012), there is an accompa nying increase in the experimental processes which take place not only in the separate world of scientific laboratories but also in society. Social innovations and their actors, who critically, exploratively and experimentally depart from the prevailing 'mental maps', the established rules, routines, pathways and models in politics, business and society -such as the economisation of all life's areas and an inevitable link between prosperity and growth (Jackson, 2012) -who call these into question and in a 'competition of ideas' lead the way to changed, alternative social practices and lifestyles, are the basis and relevant drivers of transformative social change (e.g.…”

Section: The Significance Of Social Theory -A Recourse To Gabriel Tardementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Meanwhile, the importance of social innovation successfully addressing social, economic, political and environmental challenges of the 21st century has been recognized not only within the Europe 2020 strategy, but also on a glob al scale (see the manifold contributions in Harrisson, Bourque, & Széll, 2009;Franz, Hochgerner, &Howaldt, 2012 andHamdouch, 2013a). So, "in recent years, social innovation has become increas ingly influential in both scholarship and policy" (Moulaert, MacCallum, Mehm ood, & Hamdouch, 2013b, p. 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Innovation: Towards a New Innovation Paradigm

Howaldt

Domanski

Kaletka

2016

RAM, Rev. Adm. Mackenzie

Self Cite

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Purpose: Against the backdrop of clear paradoxes and confusion in prevailing innovation policies, the contours of a new innovation paradigm, as elaborated in this paper, are becoming visible and causing social innovation to grow in importance. Originality/gap/relevance/implications: However, innovation research is still lacking sustained and systematic analysis of social innovation, its theories, characteristics, and impacts. The purpose of this paper is to focus on a theoretically sound concept of social innovation as a precondition for an integrated theory of socio-technological innovation in which social innovation is more than an appendage of technological innovation. Key methodological aspects: The paper presents first empirical results of the global research project "SI-DRIVE: Social Innovation - Driving Force of Social Change" and introduces key findings of a global mapping of social innovation initiatives. This quantitative mapping is based upon 1.005 social innovation initiatives. Summary of key results: The mapping underlines the broad range of actors involved in the mapped initiatives and thereby confirms the need for a cross-sectoral concept of social innovation. It reveals a high diversity of social needs and societal challenges addressed by the initiatives as well as a high dependency on networks. The results also show that 90% of the initiatives are scaling. Key considerations/conclusions: Finally, on the basis of these empirical results, a recourse to Gabriel Tarde's social theory allows us to widen a perspective which was narrowed to economic and technological innovations by Schumpeter and after him by the sociology of technology, and to include social innovations in all their diversity.

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Shaping Social Innovation by Social Research

Cited by 52 publications

References 5 publications

The concept of the Anthropocene as a game-changer: a new context for social innovation and transformations to sustainability

The concept of the Anthropocene as a game-changer: a new context for social innovation and transformations to sustainability

Social innovation, an answer to contemporary societal challenges? Locating the concept in theory and practice

Social Innovation: Towards a New Innovation Paradigm

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