Creating Value from Purpose-Based Innovation: starting from Frailty

In recent years, a growing number of firms have implemented the concept of shared value creation and proposed themselves as purpose-driven organisations. It is widely argued that such a dynamic will influence the next wave of innovation and growth in the global economy and contribute to reshape capitalism and its impact on society. In this perspective, the active participation of people, users, consumers, and businesses in social innovation processes is fundamental. This article explores the integration of the seemingly disparate notions of purpose-driven innovation and social innovation. In this vein, we aim at providing a contribution by exploring the creation of value by purpose-driven initiatives which introduce innovations in the field of the care of frail people (more specifically, people with disabilities) with a participative innovation approach and using relatively simple technologies. Drawing on the literature about purpose-driven management concerning social innovation involving people with disabilities, we propose the concept of ‘care-driven innovation’ referring to the care and sense of reciprocity which is shared and extended towards others - in some cases people with similar needs and expectations - as an act of love, gratuity and solidarity, as well as self-empowerment, and not as a strictly medical or healthcare-related care. We highlight the existence of initiatives in the field that do create social value for society and also investigate the facilitating factors and the obstacles they experience in implementing innovations from people with inequitable social power.