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Kulkarni, Arpit (2014) IDENTIFYING THE CHARACTERISTICS AND DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL INNOVATIONS. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

In the light of its rising popularity across the globe, ‘social innovation’ is chosen as the phenomena for

this MBA project dissertation. Social innovation could be defined as a novel solution to a social

problem - a solution that is more effective and sustainable than the existing solutions and imparts

benefits to the society as a whole. Though ‘social innovation’ is frequently confused with the terms

‘social entrepreneurship’ and ‘social enterprise’, it distinctly differs from the two, and imparts

economic and social benefits to social actors such as governments, businesses, and the society.



Current academic literature has been found to have focussed around different aspects of social

innovation and cases from specific sectors and geographies. However, any research related to

analysing a large number of social innovations across multiple sectors and geographies has not yet

been performed. The objective of this MBA project dissertation is to address this literature gap and

identify the characteristics and determinants of successful social innovations by analysing 100 social

innovations awarded from 2006 to 2014 at nine cross-sectoral awards around the world.

Selection of the awards and the award-winning social innovations is done on the basis of the pre-

defined eligibility criterion. The Kipling Method and the Resource-based Theory are respectively

applied to identify the characteristics and determinants of successful social innovations. Multi-level

and Mixed-method based analysis, and the Frequency Distribution Methodology have been used

whereever required.

From the perspective of the characteristics, analysis of the results reveals that at least one in every

two successful social innovations addresses the global issues development, AIDS, or environment; is

of service innovation or product innovation type; is developed in integration with the technology or

education sectors; is innovated by businesses or non-governmental organisations; and addresses the

urban human settlement. Profitability, novelty, cost effectiveness, simplicity and scalability are

observed to be the top 5 evident capabilities among successful social innovations, whereas novelty,

cost effectiveness and simplicity are found to be the top 3 capabilities that offer temporary advantage

to them. Simplicity, novelty and scalability are identified as the top 3 determinants of successful social

innovations, as these capabilities offer sustained competitive advantage to them.

Certain exceptions are observed when specific sets of successful social innovations are separately

analysed. It is advised that during the development and the study of the future social innovations, the

innovators, policy makers, executive sponsors, and research groups should take into consideration

the characteristics and determinants (along with respective exceptions) of successful social innovations.

Item Type:	Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords:	Social Innovation, Characteristics of Successful Social Innovations, Determinants of Successful Social Innovations, Successful Social Innovations
Depositing User:	EP, Services
Date Deposited:	23 Dec 2021 14:14
Last Modified:	23 Dec 2021 14:14
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/27137

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