IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v207y2026ics0148296326000433.html

Compassionate innovation: reframing ethical innovation through the relational lens of dependent origination

Author

Listed:
  • Narayan, Somendra
  • Datta, Subhadeep

Abstract

Innovation is an inherently relational process that unfolds across interconnected human, technological, and ecological systems. This paper advances the theory of ethical innovation through the Compassionate Innovation Framework (CIF), grounded in Nāgārjunian philosophy: śūnyatā (non-essentialism), pratītyasamutpāda (dependent origination), and karuṇā (compassion). CIF conceptualizes compassion as a purposive organizational capability expressed through three interdependent dimensions: conscientiousness (systemic awareness of consequences), mindfulness (context-sensitive ethical reflexivity), and vigilance (continuous learning and adaptive governance). Together, these translate compassion from moral intention into a dynamic capability for value creation under uncertainty. The paper contributes by offering a relational ontology that redefines innovation as an act of interdependence; extending responsible innovation beyond anthropocentric and procedural ethics; and providing actionable principles for cultivating ethical resilience. CIF positions compassion as a strategic capability that integrates moral insight with performance, offering a coherent alternative to Western-centric models of innovation and responsibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Narayan, Somendra & Datta, Subhadeep, 2026. "Compassionate innovation: reframing ethical innovation through the relational lens of dependent origination," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:207:y:2026:i:c:s0148296326000433
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.116009
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296326000433
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.116009?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:207:y:2026:i:c:s0148296326000433. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.