Towards understanding social innovation in multicultural societies

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to argue, using the New Zealand context as reference, that heterogeneous societies with diverse cultures have an expanded space of possibilities for developing social innovations. Design/methodology/approach Incorporation of the cultural context is integral to finding innovative, collective solutions for mitigating complex social problems and sparking transformational social change. Empirical support for this contention draws on examples of social innovations that embed the cultural values of Māori, New Zealand’s indigenous people. Findings Using illustrative cases, the authors highlight the capacity of Māori values, encompassed in an ecosystem of Māori social institutions, to catalyse social innovation in New Zealand. The authors position these examples within two paradigms of social innovation. Research limitations/implications The paper limits its focus to the implications of Māori cultural values for social innovation. However, it serves to highlight that appreciation of indigenous and minority cultural values can provide a foundation for social innovations in other contexts too. Practical implications Recognising cultural values increases the range of possibilities for innovatively addressing social and environmental challenges. Social implications Respect and recognition of indigenous culture and knowledge offers potential for sustainable solutions to complex social challenges. Originality/value This is one of the few papers to explore the cultural embeddedness of social innovation and highlight public policy social innovations.

Insights: 4th-Year Students’ Reflections on Design for Social Innovation

“…Cultural awareness helps designers remain cognizant of their own culture and influences. It also elevates the importance of the indigenous community and their cultural knowledge as vital contributors to the design process (de Bruin & Read, 2018). Therefore, codesigning in design for social innovation acknowledges culture as a core design consideration and can empower indigenous communities (Akama, et al, 2019).…”

Complex System Design for Social Innovation in Aotearoa

“…Social innovation has been widely recognised as important in addressing complex, societal challenges by a variety of influential institutions, particularly in policy and academic research (De Bruin and Read, 2018). It increases inclusion and well-being through improving social relations and empowerment processes (Markussen, 2017).…”

“…While Māori are often framed in deficit terms in regards to social and health outcomes and disparities for Māori are well evidenced; there is also great potential in engaging with Indigenous peoples, cultural values, ways of knowing and being (ANZSOG, 2019). These enhance the range of possibilities for addressing social and environmental challenges (De Bruin & Read, 2018) and recognise if we want to change outcomes for and with indigenous peoples, we can only do so by understanding and respecting Indigenous peoples and knowledge systems (ANZSOG, 2019).…”

“…Culture is crucial to the wellbeing of indigenous peoples and communities, investing in it can build and improve trust and relationships between communities, government and other agencies operating within social change (ANZSOG, 2019). As such, the integration of our cultural context is integral to generating innovative, collective solutions for complex social problems and achieving systemic social change (De Bruin and Read, 2018).…”

“…Proving particularly difficult to address effectively with conventional approaches, these types of issues are sometimes called 'wicked' problems, meaning they are an issue that is highly resistant to resolution (Australian States Commission, 2007). Social innovation is recognised as important in addressing these complex, 'wicked' societal challenges (De Bruin & Read, 2018); this thesis explores how so.…”