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What is not social innovation

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  • Solis-Navarrete, José Alberto
  • Bucio-Mendoza, Saray
  • Paneque-Gálvez, Jaime

Abstract

The theory of innovation, which is mainly associated with business, competitiveness, and generation of economic value, has been enriched by the emergence of new, broader, and more inclusive approaches that contemplate other types of innovation. Among these emergent types, social innovation has gained much academic attention. However, the emerging wealth of definitions and conceptualizations of social innovation generates a growing confusion about what it is and what it is not, that is because until now there are no clear limits to the concept. Therefore, our aim with this paper is to analyze the scope and boundaries of the concept of social innovation and propose what cannot be considered social innovation, which need to be improved with new approaches, this because the standard definitions of innovation are insufficient. We propose a set of necessary elements for considering a phenomenom as social innovation through content analysis of the literature. Our research is timely and relevant because it provides a conceptual framework to use the term social innovation more rigorously, both in academia and in the public and private sectors that have embraced it.

Suggested Citation

  • Solis-Navarrete, José Alberto & Bucio-Mendoza, Saray & Paneque-Gálvez, Jaime, 2021. "What is not social innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:173:y:2021:i:c:s0040162521006235
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121190
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