Journal of Systems Thinking · Volume 3, Issue 1 · 2023-10-30
Systemic Innovation
Erik Lindhult
https://doi.org/10.54120/jost.0000022
Abstract
This chapter outlines the scope and potentials of an emerging landscape of systemic innovation. Systemic innovation has emerged and been predominantly used in the innovation studies and management field, with limited reference to the literature on systems thinking or systems science. Different uses of the concept in five different domains is described to understand and focus on systemic aspects of innovation in various ways; (1) innovations dependent on complementary innovations and adjustment in larger system; (2) national/regional system of innovation supporting/restricting micro level innovation initiatives, (3) transformative change and system transition e.g. in sustainability, (4) collaboration in innovation networks and ecosystems, and (5) processes enabling innovating actors to think and act systemically. In the last, least developed use systems concepts and practices can empower innovation to change thinking, boundaries, relationships, interactions, and actions by creating new synergistic solutions and transformations. The chapter proceeds by identifying opportunities to enhance the theory and practice of systemic innovation by drawing upon the literature and the range of methodologies on systems thinking, e.g. by enabling stakeholder dialogue and value-based boundary reflection. An example is given where soft systems methodology is enabling systemic innovation processes of creation of business models among stakeholders in ecosystems. Furthermore, systems thinking can help to clarify the meaning of innovating systemically; to innovate not only products and services, but also boundaries and identities, relations and interaction dynamics, whole–part organization, and perspectives and framings in processes aimed at enhanced synergistic value creation. At the same time, innovation activity can embed systems thinking into innovation as a leading change and transformation praxis today pointing to fourth wave systems thinking. Systemic innovation can help to further a praxis-oriented development of innovating boundaries, systems, relationships, and perspectives in co-creative, synergistic value-creation processes to democratically transform our interconnected world to the better.
© 2023 Journal of Systems Thinking (JoST) · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
