The social innovation process
Research shows that social innovation consists of several crucial elements and levels in the process of developing and establishing social innovations – including understanding of societal challenges, envisioning societal change, mobilisation of actors and resources, idea generation, implementation, testing and scaling, and value creation. These do not always occur in chronological order but tend to be continuously repeated and interwoven.
Research shows that social innovation consists of several different elements or components:
Understand societal challenge
This part is about identifying and analysing needs and societal challenges, in dialogue between relevant target groups and societal actors. A societal challenge can either be based on a thematic area (e.g. ill health or segregation) or a geographical area (e.g. a neighbourhood or a park). In social innovation, it is important to create a broad understanding of the societal challenge from different perspectives, knowledge areas and societal sectors. Here, it is important to involve the people and organisations directly affected by the societal challenge.
Envisioning societal change
This part is about imagining the future society and thinking freely. It is important to create new and alternative visions of the future that can guide social change, it is also important to challenge limiting norms and beliefs of ourselves and the rest of society.
Mobilise
This part is about mobilising, coordinating and connecting the relevant target groups and social actors, as well as the resources (in terms of knowledge, manpower, funding, etc.) needed to drive the process forward. It is also important to involve people and organisations that have a mandate to bring about long-term change.
Develop and test
This part is about generating new ideas for social change, and designing and testing concrete solutions. It is about jointly trying things out, testing, playing and experimenting with the target groups and social actors concerned. It is important to overcome silos and other limiting structures.
Realise and disseminate
This part is about finding a long-term organisation for the developed solution and possibly spreading it to more locations, target groups and areas of activity. It is important to move from time-limited projects to long-term organisation, for example by forming a cross-sectoral alliance, a new organisation or an internal unit. It is also important to adapt the solution to local needs, while maintaining the basic purpose and quality.
Creating value
This part is about creating and making visible the social, environmental and economic values that the developed solution creates for the people, organisations and communities involved. Here it is important to follow up and measure the results, effects and outcomes achieved when the solution is put into use. It is also important to visualise and communicate this in a clear and engaging way.
Levels or categories of social innovation
Micro level – grassroot initiatives
Individual initiatives to address a specific societal challenge through mobilization of stakeholders and development of novel solutions. The initiative may be taken by individual innovators, groups or organizations.
Meso level – societal innovations
Networking and ecosystem of the initiative, in order to engender synergies and cross-fertilization between different actors and sectors, for example new networks, platforms, projects, etc.
Macro level – systemic innovations
Societal structures that impact and are impacted by the initiatives, such as policies, regulations, norms, organizations, routines, etc. which restrict or enable societal, organizational and individual transformation. This includes the government and public administration, as well as the society, industry, and the wider public sphere.