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Social Innovation Theories: Can Theory Catch Up with Practice?

In: Challenge Social Innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Geoff Mulgan

    (National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts)

Abstract

The paper describes ten sets of theoretical sources that have either influenced social innovation or provide useful insights. It argues that although the field has been led by practice rather than theory it now needs stronger theoretical foundations in order to progress. The theoretical sources described include: theoretical perspectives on social plasticity and change; evolutionary theories; complexity theories; theories of entrepreneurship; theories of dialectical change; theories from innovation studies; theories of techno-economic paradigms; theories concerned with the ends of innovation, in particular well-being and capabilities; and epistemological approaches to social innovation. In each case I describe some of the main ideas and arguments, and their relevance to social innovation (and in some cases their key limitations). I then suggest ways in which these may be synthesized into an overall framework for social innovation that can generate useful and often testable hypotheses to guide practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Geoff Mulgan, 2012. "Social Innovation Theories: Can Theory Catch Up with Practice?," Springer Books, in: Hans-Werner Franz & Josef Hochgerner & Jürgen Howaldt (ed.), Challenge Social Innovation, edition 127, pages 19-42, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-642-32879-4_2
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-32879-4_2
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Hoppe & Gerdien De Vries, 2018. "Social Innovation and the Energy Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Kim, Jangmin & Trahan, Mark & Bellamy, Jennifer & Hall, James A., 2019. "Advancing the innovation of family meeting models: The role of teamwork and parent engagement in improving permanency," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 147-155.
    3. Torill Nyseth & Abdelillah Hamdouch, 2019. "The Transformative Power of Social Innovation in Urban Planning and Local Development," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(1), pages 1-6.
    4. Susanna Ulinski, 2015. "Corporate Social Innovation as a Driver of Performance and Welfare. WWWforEurope Policy Paper No. 25," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 58500, April.
    5. Zajda, Katarzyna, 2016. "Uwarunkowania uczestnic twa młodzieży wiejskiej w procesie innowacji społecznych," Village and Agriculture (Wieś i Rolnictwo), Polish Academy of Sciences (IRWiR PAN), Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development, vol. 3(172), January.
    6. Jaroslava Ková?ová, 2015. "Phenomena of Social Innovation: Practical attempts from Slovakia," International Journal of Social Sciences, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences, vol. 4(4), pages 30-41, November.
    7. Carmen Guzmán & Francisco J. Santos & Teresa Savall, 2024. "How to explain social innovation in elderly care services: The role of for-profit and non-profit social enterprises," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 1849-1877, September.
    8. Bongsuk Sung & Sang-Do Park, 2018. "Who Drives the Transition to a Renewable-Energy Economy? Multi-Actor Perspective on Social Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-32, February.
    9. Edwards-Schachter,Mónica & Wallace,Matthew, 2015. "âShaken, but not stirredâ: six decades defining social innovation," INGENIO (CSIC-UPV) Working Paper Series 201504, INGENIO (CSIC-UPV).
    10. Małecka, Agnieszka & Mitręga, Maciej & Mróz-Gorgoń, Barbara & Pfajfar, Gregor, 2022. "Adoption of collaborative consumption as sustainable social innovation: Sociability and novelty seeking perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 163-179.
    11. Tjörnbo, Ola & McGowan, Katharine, 2022. "A complex-systems perspective on the role of universities in social innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).

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