Overview

At a time when governments and civil society organizations are putting ever-greater stock in social innovation as a route to transformation, understanding what characterizes social innovation with transformative potential is important. Exciting and promising ideas seem to die out as often as they take flight, and market mechanisms, which go a long way towards contributing to successful technical innovations, play an insignificant role in social innovations. The cases in this book explore the evolution of successful social innovation through time, from the ideas which catalyzed social and system entrepreneurs to create new processes, platforms, projects, and programs to fundamental social shifts in culture, economics, laws, and policies which occurred as a result. In doing so, the authors shed light on how to recognize transformative potential in the early stage innovations we see today. This comparison of multiple historical cases across problem domains creates a map of social innovation over time - shifting our thinking on both current issues and established programmes. From the American national parks and the joint stock company to the intelligence test and the financial derivatives that led to the 2008 crash, this book acts as a useful reflection and a cautionary tale, looking back to gain insight and inform the vibrant discussion of social innovation's future. This book pushes theoretical and methodological boundaries of the field through approachable narratives, making it an ideal resource for social innovation students, scholars, instructors, and practitioners. Contributors include: E. Alexiuk, N. Antadze, J. Blacklock, S. Geobey, D. McCarthy, K. McGowan, M.-L. Moore, P. Olsson, O. Tjornbo, F. Westley

Full Product Details

Author:   Frances Westley ,  Katherine McGowan ,  Ola Tjörnbo
Publisher:   Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Imprint:   Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
ISBN:  

9781786431141

ISBN 10:   1786431149
Pages:   288
Publication Date:   29 December 2017
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
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Table of Contents

Contents: 1. The History of Social Innovation Katharine McGowan, Frances Westley and Ola Tjörnbo 2. National Parks in the United States Nino Antadze 3. The Intelligence Test Katharine McGowan 4. Synthesis: Agency And Opportunity Per Olsson 5. The Legalization of Birth Control in North America Nino Antadze and Jaclyn Blacklock 6. The Duty to Consult and Accommodate in Canada Erin Alexiuk 7. The Internet: A Dynamic History Ola Tjörnbo 8. Synthesis: Self-Organization, Strange Attractors and Social Innovation Daniel McCarthy 9. The Global Derivatives Market as Social Innovation Sean Geobey 10. Indian Residential Schools Katharine McGowan 11. “A Fever for Business”: Dutch Joint Stock Companies Katharine McGowan 12. Synthesis: Tracking Transformative Impacts and Cross-scale Dynamics Michele-Lee Moore 13. Conclusion: Recognizing Transformative Potential Frances Westley Index

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Author Information

Edited by Frances Westley, J.W. McConnell Chair in Social Innovation, Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience, University of Waterloo, Katharine McGowan, Assistant Professor, Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University and Ola Tjörnbo, Adjunct Professor, Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience, University of Waterloo, Canada

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