What is a Social Innovation Lab?
Lets begin with what is Social Innovation?
“A social innovation is any initiative (product, process, program, project or platform) that challenges and, over time, contributes to changing the defining routines, resource and authority flows or beliefs of the broader social system in which it is introduced”
-Frances Westley, Sam Laban- Social Innovation Lab Guide
Social Innovations are not simply projects that are developed within the existing system but rather they are projects that,
Profoundly transform the system rather than adapting and improving it
Impact across all scales, not only specific groups, organizations and communities but the whole system at the very broadest level( changes in culture, laws, policy etc)
Social Innovation Labs
Social Innovations Labs (SILs) are an ever evolving methodology developed to bring stakeholders together when there is a persistent problem. Stakeholders from all groups come together to explore
Sense making- understanding what is happening and why
Identifying new emerging patterns- programs and initiatives- and ideas that can transform
Identifying opportunities to shape or influence new partnerships, resource flows etc
The goal of the lab is to develop and adaptive change strategy that tests multiple solutions, which together can solve the challenge
Solutions can each solve a crucial part of the problem
-Right elements brought together at the right time- can be transformative.
This is a PROCESS not an OUTCOME
Social Innovation Labs have a history of making large impact on complex systems one our our favourite examples is this one, the Local Economic Development Lab that took place in the DTES in Vancouver