ABSTRACT
This chapter explores a variety of social innovations produced by companies or co-created in partnerships with other businesses, NGOs and/or government agencies. Examples are drawn from a field study of firms in the authors’ research networks, encompassing over 70 companies worldwide, many well known for their leadership in the CSR space. The chapter focuses on different ways companies produce social innovations from 1) top-down versus bottom-up and from 2) inside-out versus outside-in. It also identifies selected pitfalls in each of these innovation spaces. Reflections from the research concern four keys to successful corporate social innovation: a compelling social purpose behind innovating, an appropriate innovation process, a strong partnering relationship, and clear definitions and expectations of the innovative payoff in both commercial and societal terms.
