Study title

United Kingdom, France, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, India, Sweden

Individual

Organization

Phase 1 was exploratory and involved the identification of cases of social innovation in a range of MNCs and their networks, which included firms in business services where social innovations took the form attempts to shed an image of being elitist through extending access to professions across socio-economic groups; in mining where past deleterious effects of the industry on indigenous communities highlighted the need for inclusive policies and economic development; and financial services, where the role of banks in combatting human trafficking and refugee inclusion was evident. This phase of research consisted of at least two interviews in each case of social innovation in over 10 MNCs and their networks across the countries. The vast majority of interviews conducted for this period which were carried out between March 2020 and June 2021.During phase one, we explored the varying interests (RQ1) and resources, strategies and social skills (RQ2) of social activists and made use of dual interviewers (researchers from two countries) in some cases in order to canvass the diversity of types of social innovation and types of social activists across countries (RQ3).Phase 2 explored the process and impact of social innovation in a small number of ‘critical cases’. This entailed a more in-depth analysis of the interests of the key social activists, the resources and social skills they draw on and the strategies that they pursue (RQs 1 and 2), and the ways in which they are constrained and facilitated by national differences in work context (RQ3). This phase also involved an assessment and explanation of the outcomes of social innovation (RQ4). To achieve this, we collected archival data, conducted observations and focus groups where possible and carried out a range of in-depth interviews with key individuals in each case, not just those directly linked to the process of social innovation but also with a range of NGO staff, representatives of disadvantaged communities and those from a range of points within the value chains. In total, we have conducted 63 interviews in this phase, mainly in the second half of 2021 and through 2022. Some fieldwork is ongoing in this phase. There were three broader cases that we refer to as social movements. Of these the data sharing includes one movement. This is specific to sustainable finance as an overarching movement across different MNCs. There are 18 interviews for this particular case. The instances of social innovation in Phase 2 were diverse in the nature and were selected on the basis of themes or intriguing phenomena encountered during phase 1. Given the uncertainty concerning where precisely cases of social innovation were to be found, we adopted an approach of “following the story” rather than focus on pre-determined issues. Many instances of social innovation involving MNCs are driven through networks of ‘activists’ involved in advancing a particular cause, such as inclusion of marginalised or disadvantaged groups, sustainable finance or assistance to social enterprises. Some actors within MNCs were indeed active in these processes, exhibiting a commitment to bring about social change, but their networks outside the firm were often important in bringing about change. Hence, we organised our case selection not around companies per se but rather around the theme or phenomenon.