The Future of Social Innovation and Intrapreneurs

This week’s social innovation topic is “The Future of Social Innovation and Enterprise.” With the Fastcompany article titled “Forget GDP: The Social Progress Index Measures National Well-Being”[1], we learn how the nonprofit Social Progress Imperative is putting forth an index that measures more than economic output, but the well-being of a society by observing a number of social and environmental factors.

As many social scientists would argue, GDP may simply be too one-dimensional, whereas the SPI may provide both social scientists and economists with a more complete measure of a nation’s progress. Given that strong economic growth does not necessarily translate into a nation’s overall well-being, the governments of the BRIC countries as well as those emerging from the Arab Spring could potentially benefit from adopting the SPI. With the adoption of a more intuitive measure, governments and innovators may be able to better understand where societal issues are originating and where collaboration to fight societal problems can occur.

With Megha Bahree’s article “GE Remodels Businesses in India”[2] and Dan Baum’s “Inside The World’s Most Ambitious Eco-City” we see two great examples of how organizations and governments are presenting sustainable future innovations. In the case of GE, the global organization has adopted a perspective that is specific to the needs and expectations of a society. GE has been in Indian for a number of years, but only recently have they fully begun to understand how they could become more of a societal force than providing healthcare supplies.

The future of social innovation presents a number of exciting opportunities, models, and new individual roles. The role of a social intrapreneur, for example, or an individual with an organization that find creative ways to become change agents that pursue social agendas is particularly interesting to me. While these individuals may historically be seen as troublemakers within the corporate hierarchy, major changes in the corporate landscape are encouraging the emergence of intrapreneurs. Corporate organizational structures, for instance, are becoming more transparent, while organizations are also placing more emphasis on corporate social responsibility, leadership programs for young associates and middle managers, and continuing education. This changing ecosystem are encouraging intrapreneurs to break through the corporate politics and pitch their environmentally-conscious and social impact ideas directly to the customer.

            This new individual role within an organization aligns well with more general shifts in how the millennial generation views the workplace. More than ever, today’s workers tie their personal values, passions, and ambitions more closely to their work than previous generations, providing a unique opportunity for employers. As large U.S. corporations and multinational organizations have a larger role in shaping corporate diplomacy and understand the needs of new consumer markets, do you think intrapreneurs are becoming an important asset to these organizations? Do you think intrapreneurs can have as great a social impact within an organization and social entrepreneurs have working on their own or with non-profits? What kind of person becomes an intrapreneur? In many ways, I feel the Heinz College prepares us for exactly this role.

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[1] http://www.fastcoexist.com/1681830/forget-gdp-the-social-progress-index-measures-national-well-being

[2] http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704547804576261151497799750