Responsible innovation in a business

contextA systematic literature review of social- sustainable- and responsible innovation research

RRI Shapinig New Horizons Conference, January 14-15, 2016

Rob Lubberink, Vincent Blok, Johan van Ophem & Onno Omta

Introduction

� The current state of responsible (research and) innovation:

● RRI has a positive connotation but its contents are flexible and open (Bos et al., 2014)

● Lack of empirical research in the field of RRI.

● Biased towards science-driven innovation (Lettice et al.,(2013); Blok & Lemmens (2015); Blok et al. (2015))

� Responsible innovation in a business context

� Definitions & operationalisations of dimensions

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Research question

� How can we define and operationalise dimensions of responsible innovation that can also hold for the business context?

� 1) which dimensions of responsible innovation also hold for the private sector?

� 2) How can these dimensions be clearly defined and distinguished from each other?

� 3) Which key activities and indicators are included in each dimension and how can these dimensions be operationalised?

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Reviewing mechanisms studied in social &

sustainable innovation research

● Conceptual overlap

● Further developed and implemented in business context

● Include other forms of innovation next to technological

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Why social & sustainable innovation?

� Social innovation: (collectively) solving societal problems and therefore creating social value (Dawson & Daniel, 2010; Cajaiba-Santana, 2014; Mumford, 2002)

� Sustainable innovation: integrating social, environmental and economic aspects in the innovation process (Charter & Clark, 2007)

� Responsible innovation: ethical, sustainable and societally desirable innovation that is responsive to grand challenges (von Schomberg, 2012). Science for society and with society (Owen et al. 2012)

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Methods

� Systematic literature review

� Empirical studies in social-, sustainable- and responsible innovation (n=68) in the business context

� Europe, USA, Canada, Australia & New Zealand

� Scopus, WebOfScience, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE)

� Realist synthesis approach (focus on mechanisms of interventions in different contexts)

� Deductive (inspired by dimensions of Owen, Stilgoe & Macnaghten(2012 & 2013)

� Inductive (dynamic capability of knowledge management)

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Results

� General observations

● Moral dilemma’s & ethics are limitedly covered

● Social & sustainable innovation studies deal more with epistemic problems

● Next to Owen’s dimensions (anticipation, reflexiveness, etc.) we add dynamic capability of knowledge management as an extra dimension for RRI in the business context

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Anticipation

� the act of determining the desired impact(s) and outcomes of the innovation process to address societal and/or environmental needs (1), negative impacts to be prevented or mitigated (2), and uncovering the different pathways how this can be achieved (3) being aware of the inevitable uncertainty of forecasting.

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Mechanism Activities Indicator examples (peer-reviewed “classics” between brackets)

1. Determining desired impacts and outcomes of innovation

• Sensing the environment (legislation, technologies, market/societal trends and supply chain) for opportunities

• Identifying and understanding societal and/or environmental needs

• generating ideas for solutions• Determining the outputs & impact to be achieved• Determining the social, environmental and/or

economic value proposed

• identification of societal needs(Arnold, 2010; Edwards-Schachter et al., 2012)

• monitoring environment (Chadha 2011)• Stakeholder mapping

(von Weltzien-Hoivik, 2011)• Multi-stakeholder idea generation

(Rohrbeck et al., 2013; Steen et al., 2014)

• Individual or collective idea generation(Bocken et al. 2013; Gaziulusoy et al. 2013; Ortega et al. 2014)

• Internal firm idea generation(Bocken et al., 2014)

1. Preventing or mitigating negative impacts

• Sensing the environment (legislation, technologies, market/societal trends and supply chain) for threats

• Assessment of risks, uncertainties and impact of negative externalities on the firm’s innovation governance and outcome

• Analysis of possible social, environmental and/or economic negative impacts of the innovation on the external environment

Exemplary narratives

• (Baba & Walsh, 2010; Weisenfeld,

2012;

• Wodzisz, 2014)

• (Bocken et al. 2013)

• (Biondi et al. 2002)

• (Eccles & Serafeim 2013)

1. Development of roadmaps for impact

• Developing forward and backward scenarios taking into account long-term vision and short-term actions

• Plausibility assessment of different scenarios • Developing and determining an ambitious and

conceivable roadmap regarding firm’s operations• Aligning business strategies with impact vision and

translated in day-today activities of employees in the firm

• (Andersson, Lundblad, & Jansson,

2012;

• Joore, 2008;

• Elmquist & Segrestin, 2009;

• Ortega et al., 2014)

Reflexiveness

� critically thinking about the effect of one’s own: actions & responsibilities (1), values & motivations (2), and knowledge and perceived realities (3), on management of the innovation process for the desired outcome.

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Inclusion

� the involvement of a diversity of stakeholders during different stages of the innovation process (1) who comprise a quality innovation network providing different resources necessary for responsible governance of the innovation process and the achievement of the desired impact (2). Raising commitment and contribution benefits network performance and can be achieved by creating and maintaining great relationships (3).

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Deliberation

� commonly agreed two-way exchange of views and opinions between stakeholders (1) based on shared information and value criteria (2) that could support decision-making with regard to the innovation that is under consideration (3). This can be complemented with actual decision-making power of stakeholders regarding the innovation process and/or outcome (4). Satisfying contributors can be achieved by providing feedback regarding the dialogue and explain how the results are integrated in the innovation (5) which can facilitate innovation adoption.

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Responsiveness

� making sure that the organisation is able to, and actually does, adjust the innovation process in accordance to events and changing circumstances that take place during the innovation process (1) within and outside of the organisation (2) to safeguard achieving desired innovation outcomes and/or preventing detrimental effects (3). This can imply that the innovation project will be adjusted or even withdrawing from launching the innovation.

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Knowledge management

� Creating or obtaining knowledge to solve epistemic problems around the innovation process and outcome by: knowledge creation (internal and explorative) and integration; and by knowledge developing (external and explorative) and synthesising (external and exploitative).

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Conclusion and discussion

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Thank you!

I greatly value your questions and comments, and look forward to start new engaging conversations.

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Extra slides

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business responsible innovation innovation or business context

context related words in title

business* AND responsib* within innovati* AND innovati* OR progress OR multinationals

corporat* rightful* three progress TITLE OR advancement? OR advance?

factory ethic* words advancement?CONTAINS OR solution? OR improvement? OR change?

factories of: enhancement? ANY OR novelt* OR modification? OR alteration?

workfloor? solution? OF OR newness OR business* OR corporat*

firm? improvement?THE OR factory OR factories OR workfloo*

partnership? novelt* WORDS OR firm OR firms OR organization

ventur* modification? OR partnership OR partnerships OR venture

establishment? alteration? OR ventures OR concern OR concerns

compan* newness OR establishment OR establishments

enterpris* OR companies OR enterprise OR enterprises

conglomerat* OR conglomerate OR conglomerates OR sme

sme* OR smes OR multinational

multinational? OR enhancement? OR company

Prisma diagram

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Quality appraisal

� 1) Is the research presented in such a way that can be

appraised and used by others?

� 2) Is the research technically well executed?

� 3) Does the research approach match the defined purpose of

the study?

� 4) Does the research address important innovation questions

in a way that is both useful and useable?

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Mechanism Activities Indicator examples (peer-reviewed “classics” between brackets)

1. Determining desired impacts and outcomes of innovation

• Sensing the environment (legislation, technologies, market/societal trends and supply chain) for opportunities

• Identifying and understanding societal and/or environmental needs

• generating ideas for solutions• Determining the outputs & impact to be achieved• Determining the social, environmental and/or

economic value proposed

• identification of societal needs(Arnold, 2010; Edwards-Schachter et al., 2012)

• monitoring environment (Chadha 2011)• Stakeholder mapping

(von Weltzien-Hoivik, 2011)• Multi-stakeholder idea generation

(Rohrbeck et al., 2013; Steen et al., 2014)

• Individual or collective idea generation(Bocken et al. 2013; Gaziulusoy et al. 2013; Ortega et al. 2014)

• Internal firm idea generation(Bocken et al., 2014)

1. Preventing or mitigating negative impacts

• Sensing the environment (legislation, technologies, market/societal trends and supply chain) for threats

• Assessment of risks, uncertainties and impact of negative externalities on the firm’s innovation governance and outcome

• Analysis of possible social, environmental and/or economic negative impacts of the innovation on the external environment

Exemplary narratives

• (Baba & Walsh, 2010; Weisenfeld,

2012;

• Wodzisz, 2014)

• (Bocken et al. 2013)

• (Biondi et al. 2002)

• (Eccles & Serafeim 2013)

1. Development of roadmaps for impact

• Developing forward and backward scenarios taking into account long-term vision and short-term actions

• Plausibility assessment of different scenarios • Developing and determining an ambitious and

conceivable roadmap regarding firm’s operations• Aligning business strategies with impact vision and

translated in day-today activities of employees in the firm

• (Andersson, Lundblad, & Jansson,

2012;

• Joore, 2008;

• Elmquist & Segrestin, 2009;

• Ortega et al., 2014)

21

business responsible innovation innovation or business context

context related words in title

business* AND responsib* within innovati* AND innovati* OR progress OR multinationals

corporat* rightful* three progress TITLE OR advancement? OR advance?

factory ethic* words advancement?CONTAINS OR solution? OR improvement? OR change?

factories of: enhancement? ANY OR novelt* OR modification? OR alteration?

workfloor? solution? OF OR newness OR business* OR corporat*

firm? improvement?THE OR factory OR factories OR workfloo*

partnership? novelt* WORDS OR firm OR firms OR organization

ventur* modification? OR partnership OR partnerships OR venture

establishment? alteration? OR ventures OR concern OR concerns

compan* newness OR establishment OR establishments

enterpris* OR companies OR enterprise OR enterprises

conglomerat* OR conglomerate OR conglomerates OR sme

sme* OR smes OR multinational

multinational? OR enhancement? OR company