Paper 1 - Het artikel

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Abstract

The social innovation process, as a method and a practise, is dynamic and includes a plethora of different actors. It derives from bringing together these different actors that usually do not maintain relationships or only in direct conflict. This paper aims at elucidating the level of the individual in socially innovative actions. It investigates how the relationships between different actors are (re)organised by drawing on the concept of the encounter frequently used in the human and social geography literature. Careful consideration is asked for the types of encounters sought for and avoided by individuals.

Social innovation works towards social change through social actions and conscious awareness. Mutual learning plays an important role in this. The role of the narrative has often come to the forefront implicating its research significance as a method through narrative analyses for interpreting human meaning and experience. Yet, the role of the narrative in working practises in mutual learning, mobilising action, and bringing about change has received little to no attention in the public administration discipline.

To explore the role of the encounter and the narrative in the social innovation process this study draws on a combination of qualitative data. Process documents from different projects are used to determine explicit points of encounter. In-depth interviews and a focus group enhance this data by elucidating inexplicit points of encounter and the role of the narrative within this.

Against the background of decentralisation and the growing importance of investing in a public meeting culture, understanding the role of the encounter in socially innovative actions could support public administrators in facilitating alternative structures for societal change. Introducing the narrative, and hence ethnography in innovation, as a practise could provide policy makers an additional instrument for mutual learning and thus to gain a qualitative insight of the relationships between people and the topics of importance to enhance quality of life from a policy perspective.

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Introduction

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Chapters critical discussion current literature

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Method

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Results/Discussion

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Conclusion

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References

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