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‘Wicked’ solutions for ‘wicked’ problems: Responsible innovations in social enterprises for sustainable development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2020

Nadeera Ranabahu Open the ORCID record for Nadeera Ranabahu [Opens in a new window]
Nadeera Ranabahu*
Affiliation:
Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, University of Canterbury, Private bag 4800, Christchurch8140, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author. Email: nadeera.ranabahu@canterbury.ac.nz
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Abstract

Social enterprises create innovative solutions to address social issues and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper examines the innovative social entrepreneurial processes using the theoretical foundation of responsible innovation (i.e., anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion and deliberation, responsiveness, and knowledge management). The data collected from three case study organisations reveals that social enterprises at the initiation stage address only a few SDGs. However, innovation development and implementation processes lead to products and services diversification and geographical expansion which broaden the SDG focus. During this process, enterprises iteratively conduct activities associated with different dimensions of responsible innovation and operate within ethics, values and rights-based boundaries. Based on these findings, this paper proposes a process model combining SDG literature with responsible innovation. The managerial implications of using responsible innovation perspective to achieve SDGs are also highlighted.

Keywords

responsible innovationsocial challengessocial enterprisessustainable development goals
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 26 , Special Issue 6: Wicked Problems and Sustainable Development Goals , November 2020 , pp. 995 - 1013
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2020

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