Inclusive innovation process from NGOs perspective : multiple case study of Iranian NGOs

Abstract

Inclusive innovation is a new type of social innovation that aims to find solutions that can offer the capability to the poor communities. Throughout this thesis, the author investigated the process and barriers to fostering inclusive innovation in the Iranian context. As inclusive innovation is a new phenomenon, this thesis chooses a qualitative case study method from Iranian NGOs to do in-depth research and answer how the process and barriers of inclusive innovation are. This thesis started its journey by understanding the secondary data (Literature review) and developing a conceptual model. Later, the conceptual model helped the author to identify several questions that were asked during seven interviews from experts who mostly have management positions in the chosen NGOs. Moreover, the analysis was made by linking the primary and secondary data resulting in answering the two research questions of this thesis. This study identified how the process of inclusive innovation is in Iran from the NGO perspective. The finding of this study shows, NGOs can generate inclusiveness through, exclusive supportive packages to the poor communities and patients or educational programs and workshops to the needy communities. Moreover, these educational programs offered them the opportunity to improve their life skills as well as increasing their income (this is also known as localization and social empowerment). Lastly, several internal and external barriers to innovation were identified for these NGOs in Iran. These barriers were related to lack of sufficient skilled personnel for the NGOs, lack of voluntary works, lack of financial stability, lack of governmental support, and the lack of connectivity to the international community.