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  • 1.  Social Innovation

    Posted 11-30-2020 14:00

    After reading the JPIM introduction article “Social Innovation in an Interconnected World” published last November, I gained a broader view of what innovation can entail, particularly in relation to social value creation. This article provides insight into social innovation, including its three defining characteristics, as well as the perspectives of categorizing this type of innovation as a process, an instrument, and/or an outcome. 

    The article mentions “environmentally sustainable product innovation” as an example of social innovation when viewed as an outcome. It made me curious as to other product-based applications. Have you been involved in a project aimed at developing solutions to solve social problems?

    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jpim.12513



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    Gabriela Pinotti
    Graduate Research Assistant
    Oakland University
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  • 2.  RE: Social Innovation

    Posted 12-08-2020 13:54
    Gabi - 
    This is a topic near and dear to me.  I was part of environmental sustainability product innovation teams for a number of years at Ingersoll Rand's (Now Trane Technology) Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (https://www.tranetechnologies.com/en/index/sustainability/cees.html.)  We focused on new technologies to incorporate into our products and services, while improving employee engagement (a key indicator of financial success as well as social success), helping to shape regulations/global issues. One of the most successful programs was embedding sustainability into the product development process -effectiely thinking through the social and environmental issues as part of the early design, rather than force-fitting later into the product.

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    [Sue] [Burek] [NPDP]
    [kHUB Administrator]
    [PDMA]
    [Huntersville] [NC]
    [585-314-4611]
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  • 3.  RE: Social Innovation

    Posted 12-09-2020 15:08
    Hi Susan,

    It's really interesting to learn about your past experience! I can imagine how the program you mentioned was successful, given that it makes sense to prioritize sustainability early on in product development. A force-fitting approach doesn't seem like it would yield the best results. Thanks for sharing!

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    Gabriela Pinotti
    Graduate Research Assistant
    Oakland University
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