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Deconstructing Social Policy Innovation Through the Use of Complex Systems Theory: A Methodology for Modelling and Simulation of the Impact of ICT-Enabled Social Innovation

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Policy Analytics, Modelling, and Informatics

Part of the book series: Public Administration and Information Technology ((PAIT,volume 25))

Abstract

The recent financial crisis has put the economy and society of several European Union Member States under enormous pressure, at a time when the demand for social services is growing due to the ageing of societies. State budgets were decreased during the crisis, and considerable cuts in social services were made. This situation calls for the adoption of innovative, long-term social policy strategies and for modernized welfare systems, which foster more efficient, responsive and appropriate social services. However, though many initiatives have been launched and funds allocated, evidence on the results obtained is as yet lacking.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    IESI stands for ‘ICT -Enabled Social Innovation to support the implementation of the Social Investment Package’. For more information see: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/iesi.

  2. 2.

    The IESI research proposed the following definition for ICT -Enabled Social Innovation : ‘A new configuration or combination of social practices providing new or better answers to social protection system challenges and needs of individuals throughout their lives, which emerges from the innovative use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs ) to establish new relationships or strengthen collaborations among stakeholders and foster open processes of co-creation and/or re-allocation of public value.’ (see JRC Science for Policy Report, Misuraca et al. 2015a).

  3. 3.

    Social policy experimentations require both designing a policy -relevant intervention and measuring its actual impact. They bring innovative answers to social needs; are small-scale probing interventions made in conditions where impact can be measured; and can be scaled up if results are convincing. See: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1022.

  4. 4.

    The model includes impacted domain-specific sub-models (i.e. relevant population, social housing delivery, care service delivery, financing of the intervention and labour market).

Abbreviations

AAI:

Active Ageing Index

ABMS:

Agent-Based Modelling Simulation

CGE:

Computable General Equilibrium

CLD:

Causal Loop Diagrams

DG EMPL:

European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

DRHE:

Dublin Region Homeless Executive

DS-HM:

Dynamic Simulation—Hybrid Model

ICT:

Information and Communication Technologies

IESI:

ICT-Enabled Social Innovation in support to the Implementation of the Social Investment Package

i-FRAME:

Impact Framework for Real and Meaningful Evaluation

JRC:

European Commission, Joint Research Centre

PASS:

Pathways Accommodation and Support System

RCT:

Randomized Control Trial

ROI:

Return on Investment

SD:

Systems Dynamics

SIP:

Social Investment Package

SNA:

Social Network Analysis

SROI:

Social Return on Investment

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Acknowledgments

This chapter is based on research conducted by the authors as part of the project ‘ICT -Enabled Social Innovation in support to the Implementation of the Social Investment Package’ (IESI) undertaken by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Seville in collaboration with DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) and led by Gianluca Misuraca. We are grateful to all colleagues that contributed to the activities of the IESI research and experts who participated in the Workshops organized by JRC to validate the i-FRAME methodological approach.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this chapter are purely those of the authors and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Directorate Growth & Innovation, Human Capital and Employment Unit, Edificio EXPO, c/Inca Garcilaso, 3, 41092, Seville, Spain

    Gianluca Misuraca

  2. Fair Dynamics Srl, Via Carlo Farini, 5, 20154, Milan, Italy

    Luigi Geppert

  3. Department of Economic Sciences and Business Management, Faculty of Economics, Catholic University of Milan, Via Necchi 7, Milano, 20123, Italy

    Luigi Geppert

  4. Freelance researcher and consultant, Budapest, Hungary

    Csaba Kucsera

Authors
  1. Gianluca Misuraca
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  2. Luigi Geppert
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  3. Csaba Kucsera
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gianluca Misuraca .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Technology in Government & Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA

    J Ramon Gil-Garcia

  2. Center for Technology in Government & Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA

    Theresa A. Pardo

  3. Center for Technology in Government & Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA

    Luis F. Luna-Reyes

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Misuraca, G., Geppert, L., Kucsera, C. (2018). Deconstructing Social Policy Innovation Through the Use of Complex Systems Theory: A Methodology for Modelling and Simulation of the Impact of ICT-Enabled Social Innovation. In: Gil-Garcia, J., Pardo, T., Luna-Reyes, L. (eds) Policy Analytics, Modelling, and Informatics. Public Administration and Information Technology, vol 25. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61762-6_7

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