AI-POWERED RESEARCH ANALYSIS
Sustainable through Digital – A Research Agenda for Digital Social Innovation
Authors: Anna Krombacher, Anna-Katharina Lindenthal, Anna Maria Oberländer, Ricarda Schäfer
To address the detrimental sustainability challenges of our time, the synthesis of two currently isolated innovation research streams is promising: 1) Digital innovation leveraging digital technologies to create novel solutions, and 2) social innovation creating social value and thus accelerating sustainable development. Bringing together both research streams, this study aims to build a knowledge foundation on so-called digital social innovation (DSI). First, by identifying 135 studies in the DSI realm through a structured literature review, we analyse and synthesise their contribution via a theory-based multidimensional framework spanning digital technology, digital innovation, and social innovation. Next, to get a compre-hensive overview of existing DSI research, this study provides a research agenda validated by expert scholars comprising 12 clear-cut research pathways for DSI. Our findings guide the advancement of DSI research and enable practitioners to leverage DSI in light of the current societal challenges.
Executive Impact & Key Findings
This research consolidates the fragmented field of Digital Social Innovation (DSI), offering a structured framework and actionable pathways to drive sustainable development leveraging digital technologies.
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Studies Identified
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Research Pathways Derived
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Expert Consultations
Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications
Select a topic to dive deeper, then explore the specific findings from the research, rebuilt as interactive, enterprise-focused modules.
Calculate Your Potential DSI ROI
Estimate the efficiency gains and hours reclaimed by integrating digital social innovation within your enterprise.
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Your DSI Implementation Roadmap
A strategic five-phase approach to integrating Digital Social Innovation within your organization, maximizing impact and sustainability.
Phase 01: DSI Opportunity Identification
Conduct a comprehensive analysis of societal challenges relevant to your business. Leverage data analytics and digital tools to identify innovation opportunities that align with sustainability goals (people, planet, profit). Define clear social value metrics and potential digital technology affordances for each opportunity.
Phase 02: Digital Solution Co-creation & Design
Engage diverse internal and external stakeholders (employees, customers, community, NGOs) in co-creation workshops. Design digital solutions, such as platforms or AI-driven tools, that explicitly address identified challenges. Prioritize user-centric design principles to ensure accessibility and positive social impact, avoiding digital divide pitfalls.
Phase 03: Pilot Implementation & Iteration
Implement pilot DSI initiatives in controlled environments, ensuring technical interoperability with existing systems and workflows. Collect real-time feedback and data on initial social and economic impacts. Apply agile development cycles to rapidly iterate and refine solutions based on learnings, proactively addressing potential unintended consequences.
Phase 04: Scaling & Ecosystem Integration
Develop a strategic plan for scaling successful DSI initiatives, leveraging digital characteristics like convergence and widespread availability. Foster strong partnerships within DSI ecosystems (academia, government, industry) to share resources and knowledge. Integrate DSI into existing business models to ensure long-term sustainability and maximize reach.
Phase 05: Continuous Monitoring & Value Assessment
Establish robust frameworks for continuously monitoring the social, environmental, and economic impact of DSI initiatives. Use digital technologies to track key performance indicators and ensure transparency. Adapt strategies based on ongoing assessment, addressing interdependencies and conflicts between sustainability dimensions to optimize holistic value creation.
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