I wish to take the opportunity to write a few words about a new book titled "Social Innovation: Solutions for a Sustainable Future", edited by Rene Shmidpeter and my Intel colleague Dr. Thomas Osburg.
This book was written as a result of the rising relevance of social innovation on our lives, and because it holds great potential that is yet to become well-known or commonly practiced knowledge. It is this potential that the editors and writers wish to explore and bring to light.
Social Innovation is more than just a cutting edge concept. It is a wide, ambitious term that aims to help change the way companies do business and the way governments govern, for the benefit of employees, citizens and people worldwide.
Social Innovation is important because in today's dynamic and ever-changing world, there is a need to find new ways in which to provide stability and quality of life for people living in an atmosphere of constant change. There is a need to nurture a vision of innovation, coupled with grand-scale, socially-oriented thinking.
As the book's editors explain, business has great potential for fulfilling socially innovative ideas and practices for the benefit of societies all over the world. Moreover, businesses must realize that their future public legitimacy depends on their social agendas and involvement in their societies as a whole. In other words, social innovation, when practiced effectively, is about shared valued: it helps secure social sustainability while serving as a catalyst and developer for business leadership, vision and success.
But what exactly is social innovation and how is it practiced? How is it different from other familiar social concepts and just how compatible is it with business terms and practices? This book wants the reader to understand the scope of social innovation its and multi-layered potential. Many perspectives are discussed and many relevant business concepts are analyzed within the pages of this insightful work, while also touching upon important social innovation instruments, applications and practices.
Social innovation can be described as an ongoing operation for the sustainability of the future of our societies. Intel is committed to this kind of investment. The World Ahead Program, which brings technology to underserved areas of the world, and local initiatives such “Initiative Madrid” that uses technology to help people get back into the job market, are but a few examples. I, as well as many of my colleagues, am excited and proud to be a part of Intel's proven, constantly developing social innovation track record.
To sum up, I deeply recommend "Social Innovation: Solutions for a Sustainable Future", in which leading experts join hands and create a masterful blend of theory and practice-based analysis. It is especially useful if you are looking to learn about the world of CSR and its role in shaping our collective future.