Key factors of social innovation in the third sector

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2024-1690

Keywords:

social innovation, third sector, innovation, social challenges, social transformation, digital social innovation, impact evaluation, social impact

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this study is to describe the factors that influence social innovation processes in the third sector entities. Methodology: From the study of three in-depth cases, a qualitative investigation is carried out from a grounded theory approach. Results: Eleven categories are detected that impact social innovation: user centrality, internal culture, focus, scalability, impact evaluation, financing, level of independence, level of legitimacy, alliances, ICT potential and volunteering. Discussions: Organizations have different progress in the different categories. However, all of them contribute to the development of social innovation. Without a deep understanding of what social innovation is, perhaps the true social innovations that the third sector generates do not emerge and may hide, compared to other sectors, a greater social innovation than assumed. Conclusions: There are four types of factors that favor social innovation in the third sector. The structural ones, such as a clear purpose or its governance. The own factors or differential capacities that the third sector possesses, such as its capillarity. Emerging ones, such as new technological trends or impact measurement. And legitimacy factors, including quality or accountability.

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Author Biographies

Carme Martinell Gispert-Saúch, Ramon Llull University

Telecommunications Engineer, MBA and PDG by IESE, she is assistant to the general management of the Fundació Pere Tarrés. She has worked at HP as an engineer and has been general manager of the Barcelona School of Management at Universitat Pompeu Fabra from 2011 to 2019. She will receive her PhD from the Universitat Ramon Lllull in 2024.

Txus Morata García, Ramon Llull University

Professor at Ramon Llull University. Director of the Chair of Educational Leisure and the Innovation and Social Analysis Research Group (GIAS) of the Faculty of Social Education and Social Work Pere Tarrés. She holds a PhD in Pedagogy from the UB, a degree in Pedagogy and a diploma in Teaching.

Joan Andreu Rocha Scarpetta, Ramon Llull University

Research Professor at the Faculty of Social Education and Social Work Pere Tarrés - Ramon Llull University. D. in History (Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome) and in Communication Sciences (Abat Oliba University of Barcelona). He also has a Master's degree in Arab and Islamic Studies (Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies in Rome) and a Master's degree in Institutional Communication (Barcelona). He graduated in History (Rome) and specialized in intercultural communication and geoculture. He is currently dean and professor at the Pere Tarrés Faculty of Social Education and Social Work at Ramon Llull University, and visiting professor at the Gregorian University (Rome), the European University (Rome) and the University of Tehran (Iran), with which he collaborates regularly.

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Published

2024-11-20

How to Cite

Gispert-Saúch, C. M., Morata García, T., & Rocha Scarpetta, J. A. (2024). Key factors of social innovation in the third sector. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 9, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2024-1690

Issue

Section

INNOVATING BUSINESS NARRATIVES: PERSUASION AND ADAPTATIONS TO THE NEW SOCIETY