A Metagovernance Model of Innovation Networks in the Health and Social Services Using a Neo-Schumpeterian Framework

Health and social services (HSS) are now, more than ever, at the center of the debate of public policy. We are interested in studying the HSS services innovations from the networked-governance strategy standpoint. With this research, we contribute by analyzing the criteria leading to the formation of HSS public service innovation networks (HSS PSINs). These criteria are important because they may result in the much-needed empirical foundation of the metagovernance of public networks for sustainable innovation. Our analysis rests on neo-Schumpeterian interpretations of product, process, organizational, market, and input innovations, and their characteristics. By an empirical partial least squares structural equations model, we present here the relationships between those characteristics and HSS PSINs. Our intent is that these relationships become clearer, and help enhance HSS PSINs metagovernance—i.e., their control, democratic legitimacy, and accountability by public decision-makers. Hence, our research supports the voices for an extended use of networks for policy and service collaborative innovation for sustainability.