Social innovation in a post-conflict setting: examining external factors affecting social service NGOs

While the study of the influence of external environmental factors on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is well explored in the international development literature, the importance of these factors on NGOs’ transformative roles in a post-conflict development setting remains less understood. Neve...

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Main Author: Aleksandar Bozic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-01-01
Series:Development Studies Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21665095.2021.1950020
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spelling doaj-5066158b767c4be798ed7649ce75dd5d2021-07-26T12:59:37ZengTaylor & Francis GroupDevelopment Studies Research2166-50952021-01-018117018010.1080/21665095.2021.19500201950020Social innovation in a post-conflict setting: examining external factors affecting social service NGOsAleksandar Bozic0The University of AgderWhile the study of the influence of external environmental factors on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is well explored in the international development literature, the importance of these factors on NGOs’ transformative roles in a post-conflict development setting remains less understood. Nevertheless, external environmental factors could have a crucial impact on NGOs in such a context, especially when NGOs want to integrate a socially innovative approach into the social services they provide. Using survey data of staff members of social service NGOs from post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina (N = 120) and applying resource dependence theory, this study identifies three environmental factors of great importance for NGOs when integrating a socially innovative approach: secured financing, the willingness of service users to participate in innovative services, and the sustainability of the implemented services. By contrast, policy and regulatory frameworks and public institutions’ openness are of moderate importance. Licensing and accreditation, service quality standards, and tax breaks are of even less importance. The results contribute to the understanding of the importance of external factors in the development of social innovations by the NGO sector from the perspective of the post-conflict context.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21665095.2021.1950020ngossocial innovationenvironment factorsresource dependence theorypost-conflict development
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Aleksandar Bozic
spellingShingle Aleksandar Bozic
Social innovation in a post-conflict setting: examining external factors affecting social service NGOs
Development Studies Research
ngos
social innovation
environment factors
resource dependence theory
post-conflict development
author_facet Aleksandar Bozic
author_sort Aleksandar Bozic
title Social innovation in a post-conflict setting: examining external factors affecting social service NGOs
title_short Social innovation in a post-conflict setting: examining external factors affecting social service NGOs
title_full Social innovation in a post-conflict setting: examining external factors affecting social service NGOs
title_fullStr Social innovation in a post-conflict setting: examining external factors affecting social service NGOs
title_full_unstemmed Social innovation in a post-conflict setting: examining external factors affecting social service NGOs
title_sort social innovation in a post-conflict setting: examining external factors affecting social service ngos
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
series Development Studies Research
issn 2166-5095
publishDate 2021-01-01
description While the study of the influence of external environmental factors on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is well explored in the international development literature, the importance of these factors on NGOs’ transformative roles in a post-conflict development setting remains less understood. Nevertheless, external environmental factors could have a crucial impact on NGOs in such a context, especially when NGOs want to integrate a socially innovative approach into the social services they provide. Using survey data of staff members of social service NGOs from post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina (N = 120) and applying resource dependence theory, this study identifies three environmental factors of great importance for NGOs when integrating a socially innovative approach: secured financing, the willingness of service users to participate in innovative services, and the sustainability of the implemented services. By contrast, policy and regulatory frameworks and public institutions’ openness are of moderate importance. Licensing and accreditation, service quality standards, and tax breaks are of even less importance. The results contribute to the understanding of the importance of external factors in the development of social innovations by the NGO sector from the perspective of the post-conflict context.
topic ngos
social innovation
environment factors
resource dependence theory
post-conflict development
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21665095.2021.1950020
work_keys_str_mv AT aleksandarbozic socialinnovationinapostconflictsettingexaminingexternalfactorsaffectingsocialservicengos
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