Areas of focus in designing online platforms for social innovation diffusion
Abstract
From the starting point of existing online platforms that provide collections of social innovations and through their actions encourage the diffusion of their featured initiatives, the purpose of this paper is to put forward a set of areas of focus that, if implemented, would form the basis of an online platform tailored specifically to accommodate and foster social innovation diffusion.
With a focus on grassroots social innovations that cater to citizens’ everyday needs, existing platforms are analysed though relevant theory on diffusion and design for social innovation, drafting three main areas of focus: creating an enabling environment, offering flexible entries and ensuring the visibility of adaptations. These areas are then detailed, supported by examples and possible paths to follow, concluding with a call for further research and an invitation to start a conversation about the need to design and develop online platforms for social innovation diffusion.
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