Browsing by Subject "Social Innovation"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    The spaces in-between: An appreciative inquiry into cross-boundary collaborative design for social innovations
    (2017) Setton, Orli; Nilsson, Warren
    In order to support Social Innovation, Social Designers advocate for the use of collaborative design methodologies, inclusive design processes, which produce innovative design outcomes and inclusive societies. While there is a large amount of literature on this topic from a European and US perspective, there is little understanding regarding the effect large social disparity between stakeholders has on these types of engagements. The researcher describes this as cross-boundary collaborative design for social innovation, where "boundary" refers to social and collective identity such as, gender, race, class, etc., which is a reality in most South African collaborative design engagements and a gap in the literature. Thus, this thesis explores this gap by asking the research question, what practices, mindsets and interpersonal interactions help to support effective cross-boundary collaborative design for Social Innovation? In order to answer this question, the researcher conducted 32 interviews followed by a single focus group with disparate stakeholders engaged in these types of initiatives. Using a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach and applying the lens of Appreciative Inquiry to her interview questions, she recorded narratives that focused on moments of effectiveness within these cross-boundary collaborative design engagements. What emerged from the data was a strong link between the quality of relationships between the disparate stakeholders and the effectiveness of the collaborative design process - what she described as "generative" relationships (connections built on trust, vulnerability, friendship and respect) that blurred the social boundaries between the participants and helped them move across the social divides with ease. This in turn increased the generative nature of the collaborative design process. Furthermore, these generative relationships were often established outside of the design process, in a preliminary phase (pre-project) before a design engagement began because this phase allowed the stakeholders to focus solely on building relationships, instead of generating design solutions. However, the importance of generative relationships does not feature strongly in the current collaborative design literature. Instead, it focuses mainly on developing communication methods as a way to support boundary crossing and views relationship building as a secondary by-product of a good communication method. This thesis, however, concludes that in order to support effective cross-boundary collaborative design engagements, this process should be flipped and attention be given to first building generative relationships that can then help to support the effectiveness of the cross-boundary communication methods and ultimately improve the over all crossboundary collaborative design process.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    The role of digital technology in scaling social impact in South Africa
    (2024) Hutiri, Neo; Auerbach, Jessica
    Social entrepreneurship is an important contributor to South Africa's business environment and social fabric, however scaling social impact continues to be a challenge. To date, very limited studies have considered scaling strategies that social enterprises in South Africa use to grow their impact. In particular, no academic work has been done on how digital technology impacts on these scaling strategies. This thesis uses a descriptive case study method to examine scaling strategies of 21 social enterprises and the role of digital technology on their strategies. The key findings of this research have been summarised into top ten key learnings that can help and guide social enterprises building scaling strategies for social impact in South Africa.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Unlocking 'fixed narratives' in the pursuit of social innovation
    (2017) Hanna, Anne-Marie; Nilsson, Warren
    We live in an age where our most significant 'story' is becoming that of a growing population living on a resource scarce planet. The need for us to do things differently is clear, increasing our awareness of the importance for social innovation around the world, yet the overriding narrative of our time remains embedded in a value system that maintains things just as they are. By looking at the stories we tell and the ways we tell them this study seeks to understand the role that 'narrative' plays in shaping our world, the power it has to influence an alternative reality, and its significance in creating conditions that are conducive for social innovation to occur. This paper gains a deeper understanding of the value systems in which our storytelling behaviour seems to be fundamentally entrenched by exploring the differences between how we understand and make sense of stories of commercial, as opposed to social, interest. In doing so, it has tried to gain insight into how we have successfully managed to sustain and fuel the growth of a global culture that rooted in an extrinsic value system, while we have failed to engender a sense of social responsibility, justice and equality. By conducting a series of participatory action research workshops across four different case study contexts, the research sought to challenge three core elements identified in the literature as occurring in narrative patterns: (1) narratives appear to be framed within either a negative or a positive framework; therefore, reflecting only a 'partial story', and perpetuating stereotypes or incomplete truths; (2) they are generally told by a single, external storyteller, with a very clear agenda; and (3) they are constructed to appeal to extrinsic values. The study set out to understand how we might unlock fixed narratives in the pursuit of social innovation - reconstructing new narratives that could in turn influence and perpetuate alternative realities. The workshop approach drew on influences from three practice-based methods: Theory U, human-centred design and elements of mindfulness practices. They were designed to prioritise story creation by multiple storytellers from inside the case study context, encourage the exploration of both negative and positive aspects of an experienced truth, and appeal to intrinsic values by creating the space for emergence and honesty. The workshops took place at a non-profit organisation, a private ii company, a public sector community health centre, and with an independent group of individuals from the same area. The core finding of this research was that by gaining a sense of 'agency' over their own capacity to identify, shape and share their own story, participants appeared able to identify and deconstruct 'fixed narratives' and move towards reconstructing a 'new, shared narrative' that was more inclusive of everyone's lived experience. A series of common factors appeared to play a consistently significant role in creating the conditions for this to take place. Some form of mindfulness, or body-based, practice was effective in encouraging participants to connect to 'experienced truths'. The use of different media to identify and create their stories increased participants' capacity to connect with their sense of control over shaping their own narrative, and the quality of listening within each group affected the quality of the story and the storyteller's own level of engagement. This appeared to lead to what is referred to in this paper as 'narrative agency'. The above factors also appeared to contribute to a common 'journey' or eight-stage experience. This consisted of fully entering the narrative workshop space (grounding), witnessing their authentic personal story (activating), articulating and sharing with a group honestly (connecting), embodying the emergent personal narrative (consolidating), gaining a sense of ownership and control over their own story (agency), integrating their own story with the experiences and stories of others allowing a new shared narrative to emerge (integrating), and demonstrating a desire to co-create a new narrative to inform new authentic actions (co-creating). This research demonstrated that it can be challenging to separate ourselves from the 'fixed stories' we have come to claim as our own and truly create the space and time to connect with our deepest needs, thoughts and desires. Consequently, we often have no real 'agency' over our stories. The study indicated that a deeper understanding of how to create conditions that generate a sense of 'narrative agency' could contribute to emerging practices in the field of social innovation, such as human-centred design and Theory U, and potentially inform new products, processes and systems.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Utilising social entrepreneurship to facilitate the successful transition of foster youth to adulthood in South Africa
    (2017) Lesea, Tsakane; Bick, Geoff
    Young people, emerging out of the foster care system, often struggle to become productive and self-sustainable adults in society. They are at high risk of being trapped in poverty and unemployment for their entire adult life because they are unable to make a successful transition out of the foster care system to adulthood. The purpose of this study was to explore how social entrepreneurship can be utilised to establish a developmental transitional service to facilitate the successful transition to adulthood of youth in foster care. The research participants were purposefully selected and comprised social workers and foster youths based in the township and the former homelands of the Free State. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and focus groups and was analysed using content analysis. The study found that the current model of the foster care system is not designed to facilitate and support foster youth to make a successful transition to adulthood. This may be ascribed to the following: ● The legislative requirements imposed on this population group, ● The lack of preparatory transition services and ● The limited capacity of social workers to address the needs and challenges of foster youth. The study concludes that intervention is needed in the foster care system to prepare, equip and support foster youth to become productive and self-sustainable citizens. Through the application of the social entrepreneurship framework, this study demonstrates how existing resources and new actors can be leveraged to provide a developmental transitional service that will serve to promote the resilience of youth in foster care and assist them to break the cycle of poverty.