Innovation In The Social Sector

Q1. Discuss how innovation can be defined and which differences there are (theoretically or in practice) on innovation in different sectors (such as public, private and social sector). Reflect upon the implications of this for how to understand the outcomes and aims of innovation.

In answering the question, you should be as specific as possible about criteria for innovation but also argue for your choice. You are welcome to use examples.

Have we ever imagined how this world would be without constant improvement in how things are done and organized especially in this era of emerging global challenges? One way out has been through innovation. However, the concept of innovation sometimes seems new although it has existed a long period of

The social sector thus views innovation as the Holy Grail of progress. In other words it’s been thought that a lot of money is spent on the development with too little to show. The new growing societal problems have paved way for new innovation because old innovations have proved not to be adequate in solving the ever changing and growing societal problems. The ability for already established to keep innovating is therefore, is central to understanding the link between innovation and social progress.

In addition, Seelos and Mair(2012,p.45) argues that many of the assumptions about innovation in the social sector might be misleading hence slowing it progress rather than enabling it.

According to all these definitions, it implies that in public sector innovation needs to serve the interest of the general public rather than for individual or companies gains Phills and al. (2008). In the case of social sector social innovation aims to solve pressing societal problems at the moment whereas, in private sector, innovation can serve both the interest of an individual, company or individual, for example, it can provide higher quality of goods or service provision systems which can lead to higher standards of living (Fasnacht 2009,

For example, Firms which successfully embrace innovation gains a competitive advantage over their rivals or competitors, whereas innovative countries and regions are said to have higher productivity and income compared to less innovative one Fagerberg(2005).

Levesque (2001) wrote that social innovation does not only solve unsatisfactory societal problems such as unemployment and security among others. But it can be used as an answer to a social inspiration for a different society. For example in the year 1968-1975, it was a period for innovators who were inspired by a lot of new ideas such as innovation and the research was being carried out by a new class of intellectuals.

In addition, Fagerberg(2005 p.18), notes that innovations, for example, new combinations of existing knowledge and resources open up possibilities for new business opportunities and future innovations, and it by this way they set the stage for the contributing change.

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