Introducing social innovation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Baglioni ◽  
Stephen Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Policy Reform ◽  
Labour Markets ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Welfare Systems ◽  
Public Organisations

The introductory chapter outlines some of the major social changes (e.g. in demography, employment and labour markets) which pose significant challenges to established social welfare systems. It discusses how and why social innovation has emerged and been promoted as a response to these challenges. The chapter clarifies the meaning of social innovation by considering how it has been defined, and explains how it relates to innovation in technology and business, and how it differs from social enterprise. Examples of social innovations are provided which illustrate the wide range of activities and diverse forms they take. A typology is provided to classify these variants. The nature of innovation within public organisations is discussed (i.e. intrepreneurialism). The chapter concludes by setting out some of the questions which should be asked of social innovation in relation to social and public policy reform.

Networks, Communities and Value Chains in Digital Social Innovation for Social Services

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Millard
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Network Effects ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Social Innovations

This chapter provides strong empirical evidence, both quantitative and qualitative, concerning the use, relevance and impact of digital technology on social innovations for social services, and develops some underpinning conceptual frameworks for understanding this impact. It draws on a wide range of literature plus an examination of 30 successful in-depth case studies in which ICT is a major feature. The chapter analyses the role of ICT in social service value chains, in communities and social capital formation, the network effects, as well as the governance, operational and strategic considerations, drivers, barriers, and policy implications.

scholarly journals State–Voluntary Relations in Contemporary Welfare Systems: New Politics or Voluntary Action as Usual?

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 139S-158S
Author(s):  
Tracey M. Coule ◽  
Ellen Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Policy Change ◽  
Policy Reform ◽  
Voluntary Action ◽  
Historical Experience ◽  
New Era ◽  
Stability And Change ◽  
New Politics ◽  
Current Climate ◽  
Welfare Systems

In this article, we analyze two landmark reviews of British voluntary action to cast a critical gaze on the recurrent claim that voluntarism is facing a new era of ever more turbulent welfare systems and dramatic changes in state–voluntary relations. Rather than representing a new era, we find the current climate may be more accurately considered a collage of past relations. By this, we mean a composition of reality that assembles different aspects of past realities to create a seemingly new era. This suggests that conventional discursive institutional accounts of policy change, which downplay the interrelated dynamics of stability and change, are inadequate for explaining the evolution of state–voluntary relations specifically and policy reform more broadly. Debates about public policy and the role to be played by voluntary action among scholarly and practitioner communities would be better served by greater understanding of the historical experience that has formed today’s institutions.

Perspectives for Digital Social Innovation to Reshape the European Welfare Systems: An Introduction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Davide
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Cognitive Frames ◽  
Welfare Systems ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Many

This chapter summarizes the argument of the book “Perspectives for Digital Social Innovation to reshape the European Welfare Systems”. We consider different and parallel perspectives that can support welfare innovation and namely the rise of information and communication technologies in the public sector, the burgeoning initiatives of social innovation in the welfare sector and social changes challenges to the current welfare settlement. This chapter introduces the terms of the discourse starting from the current debate in EU on new policy trends for social protection and its financing. It discusses nature and effects of digital thinking and connects the long-lasting history of social innovation to its recent interpretation as a complex institutional space that changes “the dominant cognitive frames that frame the social problems”. We describe the theoretical implications and the need for multidisciplinary research in a number of fertile areas. Holistic approaches to welfare innovation, emerging digital technologies and the conditions for DSI to produce structural social change need to be studied in depth. Furthermore, the collection reports many situations in which digital social innovations respond to instances in the welfare sector and contribute to the democratic debate with social experiments. Post-hoc analyzes produce interpretative models that will be useful for informing policy decision-making when political agendas are mature. We intended to recreate the lively debate going on in the field of welfare innovation and represent the many “orders of the discourse” a reader may encounter. The innovation of the book itself concerns the logic of presentation of new theories, descriptive models and empirical cases, and the resonance of the subtexts that run through all the chapters.

Disruptive processes and skills mismatches in the new economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Cukier
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Labour Markets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Technologies ◽  
Future Of Work ◽  
Market Effects ◽  
Disruptive Technologies ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Analysts predict that disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, will have a monumental impact on the world of work in the coming decades, exacerbating existing skills gaps faster than education systems can adapt. This paper aims to review research on the forecasted impact of technology on labour markets and skill demands over the near term. Furthermore, it outlines how social innovations and inclusion can be leveraged as strategies to mitigate the predicted impact of disruptive technologies. Design/methodology/approach The paper engages in an overview of relevant academic literature, policy and industry reports focussing on disruptive technologies, labour market “skills gaps” and training to identify ongoing trends and prospective solutions. Findings This paper identifies an array of predictions, made in studies and reports, about the impact of disruptive technologies on labour markets. It outlines that even conservative estimates can be expected to considerably exacerbate existing skills gaps. In turn, it identifies work-integrated learning and technology-enabled talent matching platforms as tools, which could be used to mitigate the effects of disruptive technologies on labour markets. It argues that there is a need for rigorous evaluation of innovative programmes being piloted across jurisdictions. Research limitations/implications This paper focusses on these dynamics primarily as they are playing out in Canada and similar Western countries. However, our review and conclusions are not generalizable to other regions and economies at different stages of development. Further work is needed to ascertain how disruptive technologies will affect alternative jurisdictions. Social implications While “future of work” debates typically focus on technology and deterministic narratives, this paper points out that social innovations in training and inclusive technologies could prove useful in helping societies cope with the labour market effects of disruptive technologies. Originality/value This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of the existing literature on the labour market effects of novel technologies. It contributes original insights into the future of work debates by outlining how social innovation and inclusion can be used as tools to address looming skills mismatches over the short to medium term.

Social innovation and food poverty

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Baglioni ◽  
Stephen Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Public Welfare ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Welfare Regimes ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Food Provision ◽  
The Impact

This chapter considers the response of social innovations to the growing concern with food poverty. Food provision has not traditionally been a core public welfare function in the most developed welfare regimes, and social innovations often provide more developed and effective responses than government in this area. Voluntary and civil society organisations have pioneered a variety of innovations to feed vulnerable groups while also reducing surplus food waste. These initiatives involve partnerships with private sector food companies which donate surplus supplies which social innovations distribute. The chapter provides examples of how inventive social innovations have had to be to meet the considerable logistical challenges they face in acquiring, storing and distributing surplus food. The chapter concludes by highlighting examples of the impact which social have had in helping to shape public policy innovations in the area of food poverty.

Transparency Policy Dilemma Under the Impact of International Integration: A Case of Vietnam

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tran Van Long ◽  
Phan Quoc Tan
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Policy Reform ◽  
International Economy ◽  
World War ◽  
International Integration ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Abstract After World War II, under the aegis of globalism, transparency norms have gradually been endorsed and adopted by major organizations involved in the international economy. Many scholars have highlighted the role of international organizations as vehicles for policy reform in developing countries through a wide range of commitments related to domestic public policy. Nevertheless, the impact of international integration on transitional process toward transparency and accountability in some Asian developing states remains doubtable due to “transparency policy dilemma.” This paper aims to demonstrate this dilemma by examining the case of Vietnam to shed more light on the legislative phenomenon existing in some regimes.

Social innovation and social policy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Baglioni ◽  
Stephen Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Public Welfare ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Welfare Provision ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Policy Environments ◽  
Public Policy Analysis ◽  
Social Innovations

This chapter discusses how social innovation relates to debates in social and public policy analysis. The chapter outlines the respective normative, analytical and empirical questions raised by social innovation in relation to welfare provision and reform. It discusses how social innovations originate and develop, and the extent to which they can be actively cultivated by policy makers. The chapter examines the varying receptiveness to social innovation of different types of welfare regime. It considers how far social innovations provide secure entitlements upon which service users can rely. The chapter then discusses the potential transferability of social innovations beyond the particular socio-economic contexts and policy environments which germinate and nurture them. The respective impact of social innovation and social movements are considered. The chapter concludes by highlighting the potential conservative or regressive implications of social innovation, and how it could be used to justify withdrawing public welfare services.

Social Innovation and Social Policy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Baglioni ◽  
Stephen Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Welfare Policy ◽  
Social Citizenship ◽  
Migrant Communities ◽  
Financial Exclusion ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Policy Analysts

This book provides an introduction to the concept of Social Innovation for readers interested in social and public policy. It explains why social and public policy analysts, policy makers and practitioners should become familiar with this idea, and explores how social innovation relates to key debates and core issues in public welfare. The book explains how social innovation relates to more familiar concepts, such as entrepreneurship, technological and business innovation and social enterprise. It discusses the social and economic challenges behind the growing interest in social innovation across the world. It illustrates the distinctive characteristics of social innovations through case studies which demonstrate how they address such issues as social isolation and mental health, childcare, education, homelessness, integrating migrant communities and financial exclusion. The book discusses in detail how social innovations address social problems in three substantive areas: food poverty, care provision and employment. It draws upon comparative research evidence to outline and analyse how social innovations have developed inventive responses to these complex challenges, and assesses their respective impact on well being. The book concludes by discussing the implications of social innovation for existing social welfare systems and social citizenship rights. It highlights some of the questions raised by social innovation for social and public policy reform and identifies potential limitations and concerns. It argues that those with an interest in social welfare policy should critically engage with the arguments for and evidence relating to social innovation.

Are Ethnic Entrepreneurs Social Innovators? Turkish Migrant Entrepreneurs in Salzburg

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-371
Author(s):  
Heiko Berner
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Strict Sense ◽  
Labour Market Situation ◽  
Ethnic Business ◽  
Turkish Migrants ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Ethnic Businesses

Social innovations are targeted measures that are capable to resolve social problems (Rammert 2010) and they are directed towards an improvement of the situation (Gillwald 2000). Finally, they are directed towards an amelioration of the situation (Gillwald 2000). In Austria it is argued that ethnic business represents a type of social innovation (Haberfellner 2000). The question the paper addresses is if and to what extent ethnic business goes hand in hand with social developments and possibly boosts social change. Entrepreneurs of Turkish origin in Salzburg are the focus of analysis. The paper starts with a definition of the term ‚social innovation‘ (1), the issues of ethnic vs. migrant business (2.), followed by the description of the labour market situation of Turkish migrants in Salzburg and discrimination in the labour market (3.), and, to to round up, the analysis of biographic interviews with Turkish entrepreneurs in Salzburg (4.). The preliminary results show that there exist social problems such as the lower socio-economic situation of Turkish migrants in Salzburg and discrimination in the labour market. These problems can be seen as basis for the need of social innovations. But nevertheless Turkish run ethnic businesses in a strict sense of the word are no social innovation because they do not act against the problems in an intended way; they rather work on their own account. They may overcome disadvantages on the labour market but their actions are not directed towards overcoming the problem per se. It is much rather a transintentional aspect (Schimank 2010), which goes beyond the economic interest of the actors.

Polymer Chemistry

2004 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Conducting Polymers ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Polymer Chemistry ◽  
Chain Growth ◽  
Crystalline Polymers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cyclic Oligomers ◽  
Step Growth

Polymer Chemistry: A Practical Approach in Chemistry has been designed for both chemists working in and new to the area of polymer synthesis. It contains detailed instructions for preparation of a wide-range of polymers by a wide variety of different techniques, and describes how this synthetic methodology can be applied to the development of new materials. It includes details of well-established techniques, e.g. chain-growth or step-growth processes together with more up-to-date examples using methods such as atom-transfer radical polymerization. Less well-known procedures are also included, e.g. electrochemical synthesis of conducting polymers and the preparation of liquid crystalline elastomers with highly ordered structures. Other topics covered include general polymerization methodology, controlled/"living" polymerization methods, the formation of cyclic oligomers during step-growth polymerization, the synthesis of conducting polymers based on heterocyclic compounds, dendrimers, the preparation of imprinted polymers and liquid crystalline polymers. The main bulk of the text is preceded by an introductory chapter detailing some of the techniques available to the scientist for the characterization of polymers, both in terms of their chemical composition and in terms of their properties as materials. The book is intended not only for the specialist in polymer chemistry, but also for the organic chemist with little experience who requires a practical introduction to the field.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document