UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Module Title: Introduction to social innovation

Code: BSCID 106
Convener: Dr Chawhanda. C
Email: cchawhanda@gmail.com
Level: 1
Year 2023
Credits 15

Module Rationale

Social innovation is the creation and implementation of a novel concept, idea or organisation that
benefits the society. Social Innovation is increasingly being considered as a necessary 21st
century skill required in making a difference in the society with the aim of promoting “the
common good”. In support of the Common Good, the module is designed to introduce Social
Innovation and how students can harness their creativity to make a difference. It will explore
many “wicked problems” and challenges and engage students to devise required solutions to
address key issues within the society at a local, national and/or global level with the aim of
bringing positive change. It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whilst
considering human rights and ethical implications. The aim is to allow students to understand
how Social Innovation impacts upon their own lives thereby enabling them to be curious, critical
and creative by recognising their capacity to make a difference within the society. The course
provides a framework to explore how social innovation and enterprise may provide solutions to
society’s most pressing issues such as poverty, healthcare, education, food and nutrition and
economic development. The module takes students through the process of developing a social
innovation including idea exploration, testing and plan execution and measuring impact.

Leaning Outcomes

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On successful completion of this module the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of what is meant by Social Innovation by exploring
varying definitions within current literature.
2. Identify and analyse the scope and impact of Social Innovation at local and global level.
3. Grasp and engage with the key theories in the field of social innovation and its role in
bringing about social change
4. Assess the social impact of social innovation in the Zimbabwean and international
context
5. Demonstrate the capacity to address social challenges locally and globally by
formulating and critically analysing innovative solutions in addressing social problems.
6. Identify the key characteristics of social innovation.

7. Discuss the different types of social innovations.

8. Analyse the factors that drive social innovation.

9. Apply ethical principles to the development and implementation of social innovations.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment is as follows:

 Group presentations
 Individual assignment
 End of term examination.

Teaching & Learning

Unit 1: Introduction to Social Innovation and key concepts.

Students will be introduced to various terminology and gain an understanding about the
difference between the commonly used terms in the field of social innovation such as invention,

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innovation, social innovation, entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. In addition, students
will be exposed to many examples of successful projects that have implemented social
innovation. Topics covered include:

 Defining Social Innovation (SI) and social impact

 The history and evolution of social innovation

 Understanding the difference between the commonly used terms in this field such as,
invention, innovation, entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship
 Social Innovation life cycle
 Why is Social Innovation important
 The characteristics of the social innovation process
 How do you know when SI makes a difference? How do you measure social impact?
 Importance of measuring social impact
 Social innovation story (Richard: Lion-Lights in Kenya)
https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_turere_a_peace_treaty_with_the_lions

https://www.cnn.com/2013/02/26/tech/richard-turere-lion-lights/index.html

 Case studies
 Task: Provide a reflection (300 words) on your understanding of social innovation

Unit 2: Theories of Social innovation

 The seven elements of social innovation

 Social innovation theories and frameworks:
o Diffusion of Innovations Theory (Everett Rogers)
o Systems of Innovation Approach (Bengt-Ake Lundvall)
o Triple Helix Model (Henry Etzkowitz and Loet Leydesdorff)
o Grassroots Innovation Theory (Johan Schot and Frank Geels)
o Social Construction of Technology (Wiebe Bijker)
o Social Capital Theory (Robert Putnam)
o Transition Management (René Kemp, Jacob van der Bergh, Frank Geels)

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 o Theory of change
 Linking social innovation with social change theory

Unit 3: Social problems, solutions and Social impact

 Identifying/analysing/mapping social problems (review the UN 2030 agenda thoroughly

as it acts as a very beneficial framework of various problems/directions that you need to
think of as social innovators).
 Drivers of Social Innovation
o Social problems and social needs
o Technological advancements and social change
o The role of entrepreneurs, activists, and policymakers
o The power of collaboration and partnerships

Unit 4: Solution implementation: Solving Problems with Social Innovation

 Social Business model

 Social Innovation through projects
o Project design
o Project Implementation
o Monitoring and Reporting
 Identifying change and measuring impact
 Social innovation in the development contexts
 Case Study: Social Innovation in Homelessness Services
 Financing Social innovation
In class Task: Research and profile a social enterprise, detailing its mission, impact, and
business model.
 Business Planning for Social Ventures
Task: Draft a business model canvas for a social enterprise idea.

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Unit 4: Ethics

 Introduction to Ethics in Social Innovation and Ethics

o Ethical principles and frameworks
o Ethical challenges in social innovation
o Embedding Ethics in Social Innovation Practice
o Ethical Leadership in Social Innovation
o Case Studies and Practical Applications
 The importance of ethical evaluation

Assessment

1. Group presentation question: A city is struggling with waste management and pollution.
Citizens have started a "Zero Waste" movement aimed at reducing waste through
community engagement and education. Provide a presentation on the effectiveness of
community-driven movements in achieving environmental sustainability and the role that
technology can play in supporting this social innovation.

2. Individual assignment: As a development practitioner you have been tasked to identify a

burning social problem in your community, apply the social innovation life cycle and
relevant theories for a report that should be submitted to the social development
department.

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Reading list

Amatullo, M., Boyer, B., May, J and Shea, A. (2020) Design for Social Innovation: Case Studies
from Around the World. Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York.

Ayob, N., Teasdale, S., & Fagan, K. (2016). How social innovation 'came to be': Tracing the
evolution of a contested concept. Journal of Social Policy, 45 (4), 635-653. Permalink
<https://discover.gcu.ac.uk/discovery/fulldisplay?
docid=cambridgeS004727941600009X&context=PC&vid=44GLCU_INST:44GLCU_VU2&sea
rch_scope=MyInst_and_CI&tab=Everything&lang=en>

Baglioni, S., & Sinclair, S. (2018). Social Innovation and Social Policy: Theory, Policy and
Practice. Bristol: Policy Press.

Biggeri, M., Testi, E., Belluci, M., During, R., & Persson, H.T.R. (2018) Social Entrepreneurship
& Social Innovation, Routledge.

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Christensen, C., Baumann, H., Ruggles, R., Sadtler, T.M., 2006. Disruptive Innovation for Social
Change. Harvard Business Review <https://hbr.org/2006/12/disruptive-innovation-for-social-
change>

Gershuny, J., 1987. Technology, Social Innovation, and the Informal Economy. American
Academy of Political and Social Science. 492, pp.47-63. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/1046194>
He4me4le4inen, T.J., & Heiscala, R. (2007) Social Innovations, Institutional Change and
Economic Performance,

Edward Elgar Jankel, N., 2011. Radical (Re) Invention: Why There Are So Few Breakthrough
Social Innovations and 20 Recommendations to Overcome the Barriers, A White Paper.
<https://jbctm.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/radicalreinvention.pdf>

Farmer, J., Carlisle, K., Dickson-Swift, V., Teasdale, S., Kenny, A., Taylor, J., Croker, K.,
Marini, K., and Gussy, M. (2018) Applying social innovation theory to examine how community
co-designed health services develop: using a case study approach and mixed methods. BMC
Health Services Research

Kickull, J and Lyons, T (2012) Understanding Social Entrepreneurship: The Relentless Pursuit of
Mission in an Ever Changing World, Routledge

Mulgan, G., Tucker S, Ali, R. & Sanders, B. 2007. Social Innovation: what it is, why it matters
and how can it be accelerated. <http://eureka.sbs.ox.ac.uk/761/1/Social_Innovation.pdf>

Mulgan, G. 2006. The Process of Social Innovation. Innovations. 145 - 162.

<http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/itgg.2006.1.2.145>

Murray, R, Caulier-Grice, J., & Mulgan, G., 2010. The Open Book of Social Innovation.
Available: <https://youngfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/The-Open-Book-of-
Social-Innovationg.pdf>

Murray, R., Julie Caulier-Grice, J and Mulgan, G (2010) Social Innovator Series:Ways To
Design, Develop and Grow Social Innovation: The Open Book Of Social Innovation. Murray, R.,
Caulier-Grice, J., Mulgan, G. (2010). The Open Book of Social Innovation. London: The Young
Foundation & NESTA.

Nicholls, A., Simon, J., Gabriel, M., & Whelan, C. (Eds.). (2015). New frontiers in social
innovation research . Springer. Permalink <https://discover.gcu.ac.uk/discovery/fulldisplay?
docid=oapen1002117&context=PC&vid=44GLCU_INST:44GLCU_VU2&search_scope=MyIns
t_and_CI&tab=Everything&lang=en>

van Niekerk L, Chater R, Naydenova E, Lim J, Chamas L, Manderson L, Gilson L, Peeling R,

Hartigan P, Bonnici F. Social innovation in health: case studies and lessons learned from low-
and middle-income countries. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-
NCSA3.0 IGO.

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Novikova, M (2022) Social Innovation Impacts and Their Assessment: An Exploratory Study of
a Social Innovation Initiative from a Portuguese Rural Region. Social Sciences 11: 122.
https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11030122

Publications from the TEPSIE Project – Exploring the Theoretical, Empirical and Policy
Foundations for Social Innovation in Europe – full list available at
http://www.tepsie.eu/index.php/publications

Roy, M. J., McHugh, N., & Hill O'Connor, C. (2014). Social Innovation: Worklessness, Welfare
and Well-being. Social Policy and Society , 13 (3), 457-467.
<https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746414000104>

Sinclair, S., & Baglioni, S. (2014). Social Innovation and Social Policy - Promises and Risks.
Social Policy and Society , 13 (03), 469-476. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746414000086
TEPSIE, ‘Social Innovation Theory and Research: A Summary of the Findings from TEPSIE.’ A
deliverable of the project: “The theoretical, empirical and policy foundations for building social
innovation in Europe” (TEPSIE), European Commission – 7th Framework Programme, Brussels:
European Commission, DG Research
Schröer A (2021) Social Innovation in Education and Social Service Organizations. Challenges,
Actors, and Approaches to Foster Social Innovation. Front. Educ. 5:555624. doi:
10.3389/feduc.2020.555624

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