Social Innovation Studies, un paso adelante en la construcción del campo de la innovación social

Los estudios teóricos y bibliométricos realizados sobre la innovación social (IS) indican con frecuencia que, pese al protagonismo que ha ganado en las estrategias de organismos multilaterales y en las estructuras gubernamentales y las políticas públicas de una diversidad de países, el campo adolece de claridad conceptual e investigativa. La falta de revistas especializadas y redes de coautoría habrían incidido en esta situación. A nivel internacional, el enfoque de la IS ha sido marcado principalmente por Europa y Norteamérica, regiones en las que la investigación y la publicación científica se han visto estimuladas por el ascenso del término en programas de desarrollo. No obstante, en Latinoamérica, la IS ha tenido sus propias características y merece un tratamiento con marcos conceptuales pertinentes. Social Innovation Studies (SIS) busca reunir la atomizada publicación latinoamericana en la materia y convocar a los autores de la región para entablar un diálogo internacional basado en un análisis de la realidad regional que aborde un amplio espectro, desde enfoques micro sustentados en análisis de casos, hasta enfoques macro que relacionen la IS con los grandes procesos de cambio social.

Triple Helix or Quadruple Helix: Which Model of Innovation to Choose for Empirical Studies?

While the Triple Helix and Quadruple Helix models are popular in innovation studies, the relations between them have not been addressed extensively in the literature. There are diverse interpretations of helix models in empirical studies that apply them, but these sometimes deviate from the original theses of the models. Such a situation can confuse newcomers to the field in terms of which helix model to apply in their empirical research. We discern that the cause of this research challenge is a lack of systematic comparison of the two models. To bridge the research gap, this paper compares the models from the perspectives of how they were introduced and discussed in the literature and improved and how useful they are in addressing the innovation processes in contemporary society. Our major findings are as follows: First, reviewing the extant literature applying the two helix models for identifying research gaps, we discover that these studies were influenced by three views on the relations between the two models that were located on a continuum between two extreme ends—namely, isolation versus integration of the two models. Second, we provide a systematic comparison of both the advantages and weaknesses of the two models, and this may help researchers choose suitable helix models as conceptual/analytical tools in their empirical innovation studies. Third, our comparison of the two models shows that they are largely supplementary to each other when analysing innovation processes in contemporary society, providing a ground for potential synergy building between the two helix models.

The Development of Innovation Studies in China

Innovation studies (IS) has been an interdisciplinary research field over decades of development, based on economics, business and management, sociology, policy, organization studies, and other related subjects. This chapter examines the origin and evolution of the field of IS and systematically reviews the key academic achievements and contributors in the IS community. This chapter also proposes a comprehensive and integrated research review for IS in China. In fact, despite its irreplaceable and essential role in economy, innovation also enjoys an important position in theoretical research in China. Based on unique innovation management practices in Chinese enterprises, Chinese scholars have proposed several unique innovation theories, such as “3I pattern” (imitation, improvement, and innovation), indigenous innovation, total innovation management, etc. Now, during its transition from a major innovative nation to a super innovative nation, China is facing the challenge of how to stimulate more major innovation patterns that would “change the world” in the era of the knowledge economy; thus, based on a holistic review of Chinese innovation journey, we propose a Chinese innovation paradigm and discuss future directions for Chinese IS.

Eco-Innovation Diversity in a Circular Economy: Towards Circular Innovation Studies

Transition to a Circular Economy (CE) is about structural change and is predicated on the introduction of transformative eco-innovation (EI). Research on the CE–EI nexus has recently attracted attention both from an analytical and regulatory perspective. However, in-depth research exploring EI dynamics within the CE is still marginal, especially concerning the trends and dynamics of the pro-CE innovation policy and strategy. This paper addresses this gap by taking advantage of the burgeoning research on CE of the last 20 years and offers a new working synthesis. By implementing a “(systematic) review of (systematic) reviews”, this paper provides a new comprehensive framework for understanding pro-circular innovation strategies and, as a complement, argues the need to advance “circular innovation studies” as an agenda in its own right. Innovations related to recycling and recovery CE strategies along with business-model innovations and systemic/transformative innovations are found to be a major current trend in the research, connecting supply and demand side innovations and also driving other forms of innovation linked to design, product manufacturing, logistics and reverse logistics and end-of-life management and recovery. Additionally, of note is that the conceptual understanding of EI dynamics within a CE is still mainly implicit (rather than explicitly discussed) limiting the possibilities to advance knowledge in the area of innovation for CE: this is why we propose a “circular innovation studies” agenda.

Conceptual Bases of Innovation Studies: An Analysis from the Micro- and Meso-Perspectives

This paper analyzes the conceptual bases of innovation studies at the micro- and meso-levels of analysis. The analysis is carried out from a theoretical perspective and highlights the need to study the business unit (micro-unit) and the regional/local scope (meso-unit) as an indissoluble whole in which value creation and competitive advantages are reinforced and sustained, thereby creating winning regions. Likewise, this paper helps us understand the systemic aspect, nature, and dynamics of innovation, and the influence of the historical, social, economic, and technological contexts that affect it. Finally, this paper highlights the study of the micro- and meso-areas of innovation, including their main schools and research.

Public value of media innovation systems: Building on Stuart Cunningham's work on media industries and innovation policy

Stuart Cunningham's important contribution to media innovation studies is the work towards a unique combination of evolutionary economics and innovation systems studies with the studies of media and culture. Therein Cunningham's special contribution has been in highlighting the related novel implications for media and creative industries policy making. This essay exemplifies how some of these implications have been addressed in Estonia and how Cunningham's work can be combined with new ideas on designing value-driven innovation systems as ‘national missions’ in order to address the risks of global platformisation for media and other creative sectors.

Conceptualising employee involvement in service innovation: an integrative review

PurposeEmployees are considered as important contributors to service innovation, but the literature is not unanimous about what employee involvement in service innovation entails. To advance theoretical understanding of the topic, this paper develops a conceptual framework for analysing employee involvement in service innovations, reviews existing research on the topic and proposes a research agenda.Design/methodology/approachDifferent modes of employee involvement in service innovation are distinguished based on two dimensions: (1) the intensity of employee influence on service innovation and (2) the breadth of the innovation activity in which employees are involved. This conceptual framework is abductively developed through a literature review of empirical service innovation studies to identify and analyse whether and how these modes of employee involvement are manifested in the service innovation literature.FindingsThe findings delineate six modes of employee involvement in the reviewed service innovation studies. Employees are primarily seen as having a strong influence on situated innovation activities but a limited influence on systemic innovation activities. The findings show that more research is needed to assess the connections between different modes of employee involvement.Practical implicationsThe findings can be used by practitioners to assess the possibilities different modes of employee involvement may bring to service innovation activities.Originality/valueThe proposed conceptual framework and the analysis of current research and research gaps in service innovation studies provide a clear research agenda for progressing multidimensional understanding of employee involvement in service innovation.

Creational theory and the genesis of novelty

The theory of innovation and creativity has attempted to define the origins of novel creations using the concepts of bisociation, random mutations, exploration and play, and equilibration of differences. Despite recent attempts, there is still a gap in the theoretical description of how novel creations occur in a physical world. Is it a mysterious act or a phenomenon with clear logic to it? This conceptual article proposes a creational model that describes the underlying mechanics of creative actions, both cognitive and material. The research methodology is based on theory-building using case study research. Five familiar cases of novel creations are evaluated for cross-case patterns and similarities. The cases include cooking a dish, making a painting, creating a sculpture, childbirth, and the formation of a space star. The theoretical contribution of this paper is an alternative frame of reference to the mechanism of novelty genesis. The findings of this work might be of interest to academicians and practitioners in innovation studies. The creational model put forward in this conceptual paper offers a new lens to understand how the genesis of novelty occurs.