Towards social innovation strategy: An analysis of UK social enterprises

This paper presents the management practices and organisational behaviours that influence and inform social innovation (SI) strategy in social enterprises (SEs). Based on previous studies, we theorise that a collaborative and user-centred approach and a participatory organisational culture positively relate to social innovation performance. Data were collected from 78 SEs in the UK and analysed with ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions. Findings confirmed that cooperation with the community, beneficiaries and universities, development of solutions based on the community's needs, design thinking, and people inside the SE who have intrapreneur behaviour have a positive linear relationship with SI performance. Our paper proposes a framework that indicates the what, why, and when of the social innovation strategy, highlighting the essential role of community, universities, and embeddedness of users throughout the whole innovation process. This knowledge is crucial for SEs and policymakers to assess which practices they should prioritise and focus their scarce resources on and what behaviours should be encouraged/developed to manage SI strategically.

Automated summary

This paper explores the impact of management practices and organizational behaviors on social innovation strategy in social enterprises (SEs). The research suggests that a collaborative and user-centered approach, as well as a participatory organizational culture, positively influence social innovation performance. Through data analysis and regression models, the study confirms that cooperation with the community, beneficiaries, and universities, development of solutions based on community needs, design thinking, and intrapreneur behavior within SEs are all positively correlated with social innovation performance. The findings emphasize the crucial role of community, universities, and user involvement throughout the innovation process, providing valuable insights for SEs and policymakers in prioritizing practices and behaviors for strategic management of social innovation.