Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Social Innovation pp 65–74Cite as

A Social Capital Approach Towards Social Innovation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance ((CSEG))

Abstract

This chapter explores the concept of social innovation linking the research on social capital to innovation in general and where possible to social innovation in particular. Based on an Ostromian definition of social capital, the relationships between social capital and social innovation are presented at three different levels. At a micro or individual level, the main focus is put on the role of the social innovator, at the meso or organizational level the role of social organizations as for example social enterprises are explored and at the macro level the idea of social capital is presented as a driver of social innovation in the experience of community development programs. This chapter evidence that academic literature addressing the mutual relationships between social capital and social innovation is scanty and therefore concludes offering some considerations for a future research agenda.

In Memoriam Elinor Ostrom

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Akçomak İS, ter Weel B (2009) Social capital, innovation and growth: evidence from Europe. Eur Econ Rev 53(5):544–567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Battilana J, Lee M, Walker J, Dorsey C (2012) In search of the hybrid ideal. Stanford Soc Innov Rev 10(3):51–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Bougherara D, Costa S, Grolleau G, Ibanez L (2009) Does aversion to the sucker’s payoff matter in public goods games? Working papers SMART – LERECO, No 09–08

    Google Scholar 

  • Castilla E, Hwang H, Granovetter E, Granovetter MS (2000) Social networks in silicon valley. In: Lee CM, Miller WF, Hanckock MG, Rowens HS (eds) The sillicon valley edge. Stanford University Press, Stanford, pp 218–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhury A (2009) Microfinance as a poverty reduction tool – a critical assessment. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) working paper, (89)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dakhli M, De Clercq D (2004) Human capital, social capital, and innovation: a multi-country study. Entrepreneurship Regional Dev 16(2):107–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elkington J, Hartigan P (2008) The power of unreasonable people, 1st edn. Harvard University Press, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Fehr E, Gächter S (2000) Cooperation and punishment in public goods experiments. Am Econ Rev 90(4):980–994

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florida R, Cushing R, Gates G (2002) When social capital stifles innovation. Harv Bus Rev 80(8):20

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons D, Credit CM (2011) The debate on outreach and impact: what do we know and how do we know it? Global Microcredit Summit

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg N (2005) Measuring the impact of microfinance: taking stock of what we know. Grameen Foundation USA publication series

    Google Scholar 

  • Granovetter MS (1973) The strength of weak ties. Am J Sociol 78(6):1360–1380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grassl W (2011) Hybrid forms of business: the logic of gift in the commercial world. J Bus Ethics 100(1):109–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Habisch A, Loza Adaui CR (2012) Entrepreneurial spirit and the role of gratuitousness for innovation. In: Melé D, Dierksmeier C (eds) Human development in business. Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire, pp 217–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Habisch A, Moon J (2006) Social capital and corporate social responsibility. In: Jonker J, de Witte M (eds) The challenge of organising and implementing CSR. Palgrave Publishing, Basingstoke, pp 63–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Haigh N, Hoffman AJ (2012) Hybrid organizations: the next chapter of sustainable business. Organ Dyn 41(2):126–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauser C, Tappeiner G, Walde J (2007) The learning region: the impact of social capital and weak ties on innovation. Regional Stud 41(1):75–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IndustriAll Global Union (2012) German Brand KIK sourcing from Pakistan factory. In: Electronic newsletter IndustriAll Global Union vom 19.09.2012. Retrieved from http://www.industriall-union.org/german-brand-kik-sourcing-from-pakistan-factory. Accessed 12 Oct 2012

  • Islam T (2007) Microcredit and poverty alleviation. Ashgate Publishing, Hamshire

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanter RM (1999) From spare change to real change: the social sector as beta site for business innovation. Harv Bus Rev 77(3):122–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Landry R, Amara N, Lamari M (2002) Does social capital determine innovation? To what extent? Technol Forecast Soc Change 69(7):681–701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leana CR, Van Buren HJ (1999) Organizational social capital and employment practices. Acad Manage Rev 24(3):538–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Loza Adaui CR (2012) Metaprofit: Overcoming the for profit non-for-profit dychotomy. Working papers, No 2012 10

    Google Scholar 

  • McElroy MW (2002) Social innovation capital. J Intellect Cap 3(1):30–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Microfinance Information Exchange, Inc (2012) Annual report. themix.org. Microfinance Information Exchange Inc

    Google Scholar 

  • Mion G, Loza Adaui CR (2011) Verso il metaprofit. Gratuità e profitto nella gestione d’impresa. Cantagalli, Siena

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulaert F (2005) The social region: beyond the territorial dynamics of the learning economy. Eur Urban Reg Stud 12(1):45–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moulaert F (2009) Social innovation: institutionally embedded territorially (re) produced. In: MacCallum D, Moulaert F, Hillier J, Vicari Haddock S (eds) Social innovation and territorial development. Ashgate Publishing, Farnham, pp 11–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulaert F, Martinelli F, Swyngedouw E, González S (eds) (2010) Can neighbourhoods save the city? Taylor & Francis, Abingdon

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulgan G (2006) The process of social innovation. Innov Technol Gov Globalization 1(2):145–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulgan G, Tucker S, Rushanara A, Sanders B (2007) Social innovation. Oxford Said Business School – working paper

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholls A, Murdock A (2012) The nature of social innovation. In: Nicholls A, Murdock A (eds) Social innovation. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke and New York, pp 1–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Odell K (2010) Measuring the impact of microfinance. Grameen Foundation, Washington, pp 1–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E (1990) Governing the commons: the evolution of institutions for collective action. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E (1992) Crafting institutions for self-governing irrigation systems. ICS Press, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E, Ahn T (2009) The meaning of social capital and its link to collective action. In: Svendsen GT, Svendsen GLH (eds) Handbook of social capital. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp 17–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E, Walker J (2003) Trust and reciprocity: interdisciplinary lessons from experimental research. Russell Sage, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E, Walker J, Gardner R (1992) Covenants, with and without a sword: self-governance is possible. Am Polit Sci Rev 86(2):404–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phills JA, Deiglmeier K, Miller DT (2008) Rediscovering social innovation. Stanford Soc Innov Rev 6(4):35–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter M, Kramer M (2011) Creating shared value. Harv Bus Rev 89(1/2):62–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Prahalad CK, Hart SL (1999) Strategies for the bottom of the pyramid: creating sustainable development. Draft paper distributed at the Academy of Management conference, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Putnam R (1992) Making democracy work. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Rüede D, Lurtz K (2012) Mapping the various meanings of social innovation. EBS Center for Social Innovation. Retrieved from http://www.ebs.edu/fileadmin/redakteur/funkt.dept.sol/CC_SISE/Rueede,%20Lurtz%20-%20mapping%20the%20various%20meanings%20of%20social%20innovation.pdf. Accessed 10 Oct 2012

  • Skoll Foundation (2012) Social entrepreneurs. skollfoundation.org. Retrieved from http://www.skollfoundation.org/about/. Accessed 11 Oct 2012

  • Sommerrock K (2010) Social entrepreneurship business models. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Spence L, Schmidpeter R, Habisch A (2003) Assessing social capital: small and medium enterprises in Germany and the UK. J Bus Ethics 47(1):17–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swibel M (2007) The world’s top microfinance institutions – Forbes.com. forbes.com. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/20/top-microfinance-philanthropy-biz-cz_ms_1220intro.html. Accessed 9 Oct 2012

  • Tsai W, Ghoshal S (1998) Social capital and value creation: the role of intrafirm networks. Acad Manage J 41(4):464–476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Gaag M, Snijders T (2004) Proposals for the measurement of individual social capital. In: Flap H, Völker B (eds) Creation and returns of social capital. Routledge, New York, pp 593–605

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng W (2008) A social capital perspective of innovation from individuals to nations: where is empirical literature directing us? Int J Manage Rev 12(2):151–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Business and Economics, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Auf der Schanz 49, 85049, Ingolstadt, Germany

    André Habisch & Cristian R. Loza Adaui

Authors
  1. André Habisch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cristian R. Loza Adaui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to André Habisch .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Intel Corp., Dornacher Str. 1, Feldkirchen, 85622, Bayern, Germany

    Thomas Osburg

  2. Centre for Humane Market Economy, Schlossallee 9, Puch, 5412, Austria

    René Schmidpeter

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Habisch, A., Adaui, C.R.L. (2013). A Social Capital Approach Towards Social Innovation. In: Osburg, T., Schmidpeter, R. (eds) Social Innovation. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36540-9_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation