社會創新的成功與設計及社會企業家帶來的貢獻

Abstract

這篇論文處理了關於社會創新的概念，特別將焦點著重於社會企業及設計，此二者為目前這領域中新興的重要力量。本研究探索的問題，是關於上述二者是如何努力合作，以提供更具有創造及創新的解決方案，來降低社會問題。本文特別注視社會創新過程的各個階段，並提出一個疑問:什麼是社會創新過程中的成功因素，而其中哪些是社會企業及設計領域的強項?了解它們的力量，有助於規劃更有效率的合作與相互的學習，並最終帶來更成功的社會創新之成果。 基於對參與者(超過20間位於全球的公司)的訪談與調查，其結果呈現，參與社會創新的設計公司及社會企業，認為全面性的技巧與準則，相較於那些與特定領域有關的技巧與準則，具有更大的重要性。此外，結果也清楚呈現，它們必須更聚焦於以消費者為中心的途徑。最後，此研究指出了數個技巧，是前述兩方能彼此互相學習的。

This thesis deals with the concept of social innovation with a special focus on social entrepreneurship and design, two emerging important forces in the field. This exploratory study is concerned with the question of collaboration between these two parties in their effort of providing more creative and innovative solutions to pressing social problems. In particular, this research paper looks at the stages of the social innovation process and asks a question: what are the success factors of the process of social innovation and which of those factors are social entrepreneurship and design fields are strong at? Knowing their strengths allows planning for more efficient collaboration and mutual learning and eventually more successful outcomes of social innovation. The results which are based on the interviews and surveys with participation of more than 20 companies from all over the world demonstrated that design companies and social enterprise involved into social innovation consider universal skills and principles of a greater importance than those that are associated with a particular field. It also became clear that they need to focus more on consumer-centered approach. Finally the research identified a number of skills which two sides can learn each other.