Grand Societal Challenges and Responsible Innovation

Journal of Management Studies, 59(1): 1-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12785.

Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise Research Paper No. 3978344

53 Pages Posted: 28 Mar 2022

See all articles by Christian Voegtlin

Christian Voegtlin

ZHAW School of Management and Law; University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration; University of Zurich - Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology

Andreas Georg Scherer

University of Zurich - IBW Department of Business Administration

Günter K. Stahl

Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna); INSEAD

Olga Hawn

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Date Written: 2022

Abstract

Grand societal challenges (GSCs) represent complex, multi-level, multi-dimensional problems that require concerted efforts by various actors –public, private, and non-profit–to be successfully addressed. Businesses –alone or in conjunction with governmental and non-profit organizations –are relevant actors in this regard, as they represent a source of innovation. Responsible innovation (RI) is a framework that allows for the governance and evaluation of innovations with regard to their potential harmful consequences and positive contributions to societal challenges. Moreover, it stipulates that this evaluation process should be facilitated by appropriate governance structures at various levels. The aim of this article is to expand theorizing on GSCs and RI and to encourage research that explores their links. We outline pertinent characteristics of GSCs that make current conceptualizations of corporate social responsibility and social innovation limited in addressing GSCs. We explicate the reflexive and participative capacities of RI governance as a complementary and promising way forward. Finally, we introduce the contributions to this Special Issue as illustrations of relevant theoretical and empirical groundwork around GSCs and RI, and outline the agenda for future research.

Keywords: Grand societal challenges, responsible innovation, global and corporate governance, deliberation, sustainable development, COVID-19

Suggested Citation

Voegtlin, Christian and Scherer, Andreas Georg and Stahl, Günter K. and Hawn, Olga, Grand Societal Challenges and Responsible Innovation (2022). Journal of Management Studies, 59(1): 1-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12785., Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise Research Paper No. 3978344, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3978344 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3978344

Christian Voegtlin (Contact Author)

ZHAW School of Management and Law ( email )

St.-Georgen-Platz 2
Winterthur, 8401
Switzerland

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration ( email )

Universitätsstr. 84
CH-8006 Zürich, 8006
Switzerland

University of Zurich - Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zürich, 8032
Switzerland

Andreas Georg Scherer

University of Zurich - IBW Department of Business Administration ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zurich, 8032
Switzerland
+41 44-63 45302 (Phone)
+41 44-63 45301 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.business.uzh.ch/professorships/as.html

Günter K. Stahl

Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna) ( email )

Austria

INSEAD ( email )

Finance area, Boulevard de Constance
Fontainebleau 77305
France

Olga Hawn

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School ( email )

Chapel Hill, NC 27599
United States

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