Social, commercial, or both? An exploratory study of the identity orientation of digital social innovations

Abstract

The information systems literature has studied digital innovation extensively and focused primarily on its commercial related objectives. Yet, digital social innovations (DSIs) seek to solve social problems, while implementing commercially viable approaches. Drawing from the social entrepreneurship literature and using computational social science methods, we identify the peculiar utilitarian (commercial) and collectivistic (social) identity orientations that shape DSI. We use a sample of 292 DSI initiatives from Latin America and find that DSIs present both utilitarian and collectivist identity orientation.We also find that the collectivistic identity orientation tends to be more salient in less developed contexts. This allows us to discuss implications for the research on DSI and to open up a discussion on the role of context and possible tensions that may emerge in combining both identity orientations.

Digital social innovation and civic participation: toward responsible and inclusive transport planning

“…We understand that DSI literature is still in infancy (Rodrigo, Fernández, and Marcos 2019). It has been variously associated with e-commerce through social entrepreneurship (Bonina, López-Berzosa, and Scarlata 2020) and e-governance for improving social services and social policy (Misuraca and Pasi 2019). To progress, the approach requires further conceptual and applied research across disciplines and sectors.…”

Social entrepreneurship review: a gap in the Latin American context

“…One of the SE competencies proposed by S aenz Bilbao and L opez Vélez (2015) Social entrepreneur ship review is initiative and proactivity, which is defined as the ability to promote initiatives, introduce new innovative products, innovative products/services or technology and anticipate future problems, needs or changes. Bonina et al (2020) identify digital social innovations, which seek to solve social problems while implementing commercially viable approaches through digital skills and resources. The authors suggest the critical role that donors and funders of digital social innovations may have in enabling social impacts and the institutional context's role in developing the right legal frameworks and support in funding and training.…”

Game affordance, gamer orientation, and in‐game purchases: A hedonic–instrumental framework

“…Gamer orientation describes a player's motivation to play a game. Gamers approach games with different psychological orientations, and there are different kinds of games that cater to those orientations (Bonina et al, 2020; Goh et al, 2012). Playing games has commonly been seen as a leisure activity (Wu et al, 2010).…”