TOWARD A THEORY OF SOCIAL INNOVATION - Kristen Pue, Christian Vandergeest, and Dan Breznitz - INNOVATION POLICY LAB WORKING PAPER SERIES 2016-01

The socially creative strategy is a key reactant in the process of social innovation; the invention of a socially creative strategy initiates social innovation, yet the transformation of a socially creative strategy occurs throughout the social innovation process. [...] The socially creative strategy is a key reactant in the process of social innovation; the invention of a socially creative strategy initiates social innovation, yet the transformation of a socially creative strategy occurs throughout the social innovation process. [...] For example, the process of social innovation is shaped by existing authorities; the institutional arrangements that structure social relations; and background norms pertaining to a social problem and the proposed solution.60 The social structure most often discussed in the study of social innovation is the institution.61 Institutions are the rules of the game;62 they constitute stable mutual expe. [...] The Outcomes of Social Innovation If the process of social innovation arrives at its end state, the adoption of a socially creative strategy, it results in two outcomes: (9) social change and a reconfiguration of the (3) social problem such that it, ideally though not necessarily, meets a (8) social goal. [...] For example, in the influential publication The Open Book of Social Innovation, Murray, Caulier-Grice and Mulgan advance six stages of social innovation and discuss the supports that might help a social venture to engage in each.136 While we applaud the breadth of analysis undertaken by the authors, this approach unfortunately assumes that all social innovation emanates from a social venture, oper.