This paper written by Nick Jankel (a download is available from the articles section of the website) looks at the lack of remarkable lack of ‘breakthrough’ socially innovative ideas in the last decade and wonders why this is as we enter an age that is more connected by the web and social media than anytime before. He starts off with a quote from Obama that sets the tone of expectation that carries throughout the paper:
Our single greatest asset is the innovation and the ingenuity and creativity of the (American) people. President Obama, 2010
Jankel focuses on the idea of ‘breakthrough’ innovations that have the power and essential disruptive force to change a market. The example he uses is NetFlix (a similar concept to LoveFilm for UK dwellers) whose success is attributed to four key elements:
- Systemic change in business model and market
- Sustainable business framework
- Scaleable idea
- Self-organisation is incorporated into the business model relying on their customer base to act as ‘good consumers’
Jankel spends the majority of the paper subsequently analysing the barriers to innovation and breakthrough ideas existing in each element of NetFlix’s success. Just a taster of his reasoning from the barriers to systemic change (so as to not ruin the paper for you) is that most social innovation is currently incremental rather than breakthrough and tends to focus on symptoms not causes.
He makes a very valid point that the most powerful innovations come from the margins not the middle. So these actors are usually shunned by the mainsteam and need to use new ways to access those policy makers or bureaucratas that can make the difference. Something SIX will be looking at through new social media empowerment at our Spring School.
Jankel ends the paper with 20 recommendations of which I would like to highlight two:
“11. Harness open innovation and be collaborative”
This is something we are all for at SIX, creating networks and sharing is the way forward for successful and lasting social innovation.
“14. Harness pro-social human capital from laid off public sector workers and
unemployed grads.”
In a time of rising unemployment could there be a better idea than this for trying to use the skills and harness the talents of this alarmingly growing group? If something positive can be taken from the financial crisis and recession then maybe this is it.
More details can be found on the article here: http://www.socialinnovationexchange.org/node/5865