Èñòî÷íèê: Social Innovation:Concepts, research fields and international trends
Within his innovation typology, Brooks distinguishes between innovations that are almost purely technical (such as new materials), socio-technical innovations (such as transportation infrastructure) and social innovations. These are further classified and separated within the larger and unspecific definition. Brooks makes distinctions between the following types of social innovations: market innovations (such as leasing), management innovations (such as new working hour arrangements), political innovations (such as summit meetings) and institutional innovations (such as self-help groups). On the relationship between social and technical innovation, he states: "The supermarket has resulted in the invention of new types of check-out counters, stackable grocery carts, optical labeling of cans for automatic check-out, etc. McDonald’s developed a this process of the development of a new social practice is always about the interests of the given actors, and hence also about power and the distribution of social opportunities whole host of minor but important inventions such as a special scoop and bag of French fries. The thrust however, comes from the market, and the technology is usually incidental and rather mundane in technical terms though no less ingenious. The organizational invention comes first, and technical innovations are gradually introduced to improve it, rather than the reverse."
Hochgerner identifies social innovations in businesses, civil society, government and social milieus whose content relates to participation, procedural rules and behavior as a special type of innovation to be distinguished from technological and non-technological business innovations (products, processes, organization, marketing). Just like technological innovations, they are integrated into innovation cultures or social-cultural formations of innovation, each with their own specific character, and influence these in turn; they are a "component of social change" but not identical to it. "Social innovations are new concepts and measures that are accepted by impacted social groups and are applied to overcome social challenges." This may concern a new solution for a previously identified problem, a recognized solution that has not yet been applied in a certain spatial social context or a solution responding to problems arising in the wake of social change.
The "working definition" from Kesselring and Leitner states: "Social innovations are elements of social change that create new social facts, namely impacting the behavior of individual people or certain social groups in a recognizable way with an orientation towards recognized objects that are not primarily economically motivated." Its substance rests in a "targeted and new type of organization of social practice". This subject matter and area of application that can be separated from technical innovation also marks a relevant unique characteristic regarding the role and potential of the social sciences: Social innovation is "to be regarded as the interface point between sociological reflection and social action because it requires reflection on societal problems and targeted action". This holds opportunities for the social sciences – which have hardly been tapped so far – to "be 24 visibly involved in public debate and practical societal contexts" and to act "as a supporter of social innovation".
In the context of their literary research on the diffusion of innovation in health care-related service organizations, Greenhalgh et al. define innovation in this area as "a novel set of behaviors, routines, and ways of working that are directed at improving health outcomes, administrative efficiency, cost effectiveness or users’ experience and that are implemented by planned and coordinated actions".
Collectively this definition and others indicate that social innovations are distinct from technical innovations and are an independent and different type of innovation. What is in essence innovation occurs on the level of social behavioral patterns, routines, practices and settings. This, and not on the level of material production, is where the decisive new combination of (social) factors and the pursuit of socially recognized goals with different means occurs where social innovation is concerned. The innovation of social interaction, forms of transportation and behavioral patterns as the true subject matter, purpose and "decisive/competitive" factor demarcates social innovation from technical innovation. In assessing their overview on the use of the concept of social innovation in different fields of research, Moulaert et. al. come to the conclusion: "In all above approaches, the definitions of social innovation are both analytical and normative. We especially stress three dimensions, preferably occurring in interaction with each other.
Satisfaction of human needs that are not currently satisfied, either because ‘not yet’ or because ‘no longer’ perceived as important by either the market or the state.
Chances in social relations, especially with regard to governance, that enable the above satisfaction, but also increase the level of participation of all but especially deprived groups in society
Increasing the socio-political capability and access to resources needed to enhance rights to satisfaction of human needs and participation (empowerment dimension).
This dual determination in scientific conceptions of social innovation as being equally analytical and normative prompts us to investigate the value aspect of social innovation.
Links:
1. Brooks 1982, p. 10
2. Hochgerner 2009
3. Moulaert et al. 2005, p. 1976