Linking cooperatives and social innovation : Bonds for transforming societies

Cooperatives are very often considered in the literature as drivers of social innovations. To this end, this research has a twofold objective. Firstly, to find the common elements between social innovations and cooperatives that explain why cooperatives are a key entrepreneurial model for implementi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Guzmán Alfonso, Carmen, Valiente-Palma, Lidia, Santos Cumplido, Francisco Javier
Tipo de recurso: capítulo de libro
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/165840
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/165840
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003449850‑33
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Cooperatives
Innovation
Descripción
Sumario:Cooperatives are very often considered in the literature as drivers of social innovations. To this end, this research has a twofold objective. Firstly, to find the common elements between social innovations and cooperatives that explain why cooperatives are a key entrepreneurial model for implementing social innovations. Secondly, to study which type of social innovation is the most closely linked to cooperative organisations. According to the literature review of these two issues, and regarding the first objective, the common bonds between social innovations and cooperatives are located in the determining factors that ensure the success of social innovations. Among the factors considered relevant are participation, collaboration, knowledge and commitment to the environment, which, at the same time, are present in the cooperative essence or philosophy of cooperatives. Regarding the second objective, this research proposes that the type of social innovations primarily associated with cooperatives are, according to their values and principles, transformative social innovations, which have a transversal impact on societies and economies. A variety of examples from all over the world are collected to illustrate the conclusions reached herein. This study contributes to the literature by deepening the knowledge of cooperatives and demonstrating how these organisations can provide a viable tool for the public sector to solve current social problems and promote territorial development.