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

Abstract

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.

Social innovation in question: The theoretical and practical implications of a contested concept

“…We argue instead that this lack of rigour limits the potential of this concept, as a tool for both research and action. Based on our literature review, we observed that articles using the term SI often shift seamlessly between definitions of what SI is and what it should be (Borzaga and Bodini, 2014;Cajaiba-Santana, 2014;Grimm et al, 2013;Mieg and To¨ pfer, 2013;Novy and Leubolt, 2005;Pol and Ville, 2009). This use of the term occasionally leaves the reader unaware of what has been observed in practice and what the agents on the field, or the author, would like to have seen happen as a result of their own values.…”

“…In this context, SI refers to the social changes that had to happen in the structures of society to accommodate (or to trigger) new economic and political systems. It is therefore used as a generic concept that encapsulates, among other things, significant changes in government and governance, in the relationship between different social groups (or social classes) or in the role of religion in politics and society (Grimm et al, 2013;Jessop et al, 2013). This use of the term has nonetheless become less common, partly because the social sciences have in general moved away from structural analysis of big societal transformations in favour of more contextualised or micro-analysis of social phenomena (Scott, 2000).…”

“…It is used both in its more radical incarnations, as a way to understand and guide wide ranging social transformation (Henderson, 1993), and in its more pragmatic versions, to describe what are seen as socially minded innovations (Garcia and Haddock, 2016). It remains however an elusive concept, with multiple contributions highlighting the many ways in which it can and has been used, while rarely attempting to define it clearly, or to articulate its conceptual and practical implications (Grimm et al, 2013). This paper will seek to address these gaps in three steps.…”

A social innovation for combating discrimination against persons with disabilities in the built environment

“…As observed by Eduardo Pol and Simon Ville (2009: 2), "[t]he term 'social innovation' has entered the discourse of social scientists with particular speed, but there is no consensus regarding its relevance or specific meaning in the social sciences and humanities." Some authors (e.g., Robert Grimm et al, 2013) have expressed concern that the concept has been stretched in so many directions, almost to the "breaking point". The intensification of discourse on the subject may be construed as a recognition of its topicality by some social scientists (e.g., Martin, 2006;Cajaiba-Santana, 2014), who have premised their discussion on the subject on the conviction that social innovation has a crucial role to play in efforts to achieve institutional change to better living conditions.…”

Actors in the Social Innovation Process: The Case of Mobile Courts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

“…However, some innovations can give rise to wider change and create value for the society such as social innovation (Murray et al, 2010). Over the last decade, social innovation has gained the attention of academicians and policy-makers, and has been studied in different disciplines (Grimm, Fox, Baines, & Albertson, 2013;Rüede & Lurtz, 2012;Osburg & Schmidpeter, 2013). Murray et al (2010) define social innovations as "new ideas (products, services, and models) that simultaneously meet social needs and create new social relationships or collaborations" (p. 3).…”