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On the evaluation of social innovations and social enterprises: Recognizing and integrating two solitudes in the empirical knowledge base

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  • Szijarto, Barbara
  • Milley, Peter
  • Svensson, Kate
  • Cousins, J. Bradley

Abstract

Social innovation (SI) is billed as a new way to address complex social problems. Interest in SI has intensified rapidly in the last decade, making it an important area of practice for evaluators, but a difficult one to navigate. Learning from developments in SI and evaluation approaches applied in SI contexts is challenging because of ‘fuzzy’ concepts and silos of activity and knowledge within SI communities. This study presents findings from a systematic review and integration of 41 empirical studies on evaluation in SI contexts. We identify two isolated conversations: one about ‘social enterprises’ (SEs) and the other about non-SE ‘social innovations’. These conversations diverge in key areas, including engagement with evaluation scholarship, and in the reported purposes, approaches and use of evaluation. We identified striking differences with respect to degree of interest in collaborative approaches and facilitation of evaluation use. The findings speak to trends and debates in our field, for example how evaluation might reconcile divergent information needs in multilevel, cross-sectoral collaborations and respond to fluidity and change in innovative settings. Implications for practitioners and commissioners of evaluation include how evaluation is used in different contexts and the voice of evaluators (and the evaluation profession) in these conversations.

Suggested Citation

  • Szijarto, Barbara & Milley, Peter & Svensson, Kate & Cousins, J. Bradley, 2018. "On the evaluation of social innovations and social enterprises: Recognizing and integrating two solitudes in the empirical knowledge base," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 20-32.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:66:y:2018:i:c:p:20-32
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2017.08.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. de Souza João-Roland, Iraci & Granados, Maria L., 2023. "Towards social innovation strategy: An analysis of UK social enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Lin, Yi-Hsin & Lin, Feng-Jyh & Wang, Kuo-Hsiung, 2021. "The effect of social mission on service quality and brand image," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 744-752.
    3. Mohsen Nazari & Iman Mostashar Nezami & Ali Asgary, 2024. "Mapping social innovation impact evaluation: a comprehensive literature review and prospects for future research," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(5), pages 4505-4532, October.
    4. Ali Asghar Sadabadi & Neda Aramipour, 2023. "Combining social innovation and systems thinking to improve charity's performance in downtown of Tehran," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 36(4), pages 571-586, August.
    5. Gupta, Parul & Chauhan, Sumedha & Paul, Justin & Jaiswal, M.P., 2020. "Social entrepreneurship research: A review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 209-229.
    6. Rogelja, T. & Ludvig, A. & Weiss, G. & Secco, L., 2018. "Implications of policy framework conditions for the development of forestry-based social innovation initiatives in Slovenia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 147-155.
    7. Sara Hudson & Dennis Foley & Margaret Cargo, 2022. "Indigenous Social Enterprises and Health and Wellbeing: A Scoping Review and Conceptual Framework," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-28, November.
    8. Secco, Laura & Pisani, Elena & Da Re, Riccardo & Rogelja, Todora & Burlando, Catie & Vicentini, Kamini & Pettenella, Davide & Masiero, Mauro & Miller, David & Nijnjk, Maria, 2019. "Towards a method of evaluating social innovation in forest-dependent rural communities: First suggestions from a science-stakeholder collaboration," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 9-22.
    9. Lawarée, Justin & Jacob, Steve & Ouimet, Mathieu, 2020. "A scoping review of knowledge syntheses in the field of evaluation across four decades of practice," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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