Digital innovation
Digital innovation lies in shifting an organisation’s culture and systems to adapt to digitalisation by aligning and activating a long-term vision. We developed it with SGS, taking into account a contextual analysis, internal information and trends, to design a strategic overview to pave the way for change, in a people- and planet-centric approach.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and the Internet of Things, all of these have the potential to transform every aspect of society, from healthcare and education to finance and entertainment. However, digital innovation is more than just buzzwords and trendy technologies. It is key to advance these for positive impact, to address social and environmental challenges, from improving healthcare access to reducing carbon emissions.
Sustainable innovation
Developing new technologies, products, and services that are environmentally sustainable and socially responsible will contribute towards reducing our impact on the environment and regenerating our ecosystems. This does not mean simply reducing our negative impact, but also striving to repair the damage that has been done. For that, we need to consider and integrate social and environmental consequences into our decision-making processes and imagine desired futures.
Examples include exploring circular economic models, transitioning to renewable energy sources, rethinking our food systems or developing sustainable financial products and services. We collected our experiences in creating circular visions in a white paper about the power of applying design methodologies to the circular economy.
Social innovation
Through the power of design and other creative problem-solving methodologies, we can develop solutions that address complex social issues, such as poverty, inequality, and access to education and healthcare. Promoting a future where everyone is included, improving the well-being and quality of life of individuals and communities. Not just some, but all. For this, collaboration is key: bringing together diverse stakeholders, including governments, communities, NGOs, and businesses to respond to the challenges in the best way.
One example is social innovation labs: collaborative spaces where diverse stakeholders come together to develop and test innovative solutions to complex social problems. We have explored before the power of community-led innovation, how to improve and humanise healthcare processes, such as the transition towards a care home, digitising mental health therapy, and empowering financial health.
Collaborative governance
Moving the governance and power from the leaders to the communities and people working on the ground will challenge the status quo and dismantle the traditional hierarchy of governance. This means optimising governments for learning and increasing collaboration, creating inclusive and participatory decision-making processes, and building trust and shared understanding among stakeholders to solve communities’ complex problems. How? By moving away from single-point solutions and stepping forward into more systemic approaches. But also, letting go of governance focused on setting boundaries, control and rigid models of deciding and doing things, to instead reaching out to municipalities and citizens, and embracing a fast learning and experimenting mindset.
One example is engaging in collaborative approaches to designing policy or participatory democracy, where citizens are empowered to influence what their future will look like.
On our end, we have been collaborating with municipalities, experts and local communities to improve processes around policy, financial health, education and sexual intimidation and violence.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Lastly, there is an increasing expectation from society for companies to take more accountability for their impact on communities and the planet. This means that organisations must commit to using business as a force for good and have responsible approaches to governance, such as more flat organisational structures, and workers, such as building a healthy workplace and creating a positive impact on the community, and the environment. This can include initiatives such as philanthropy, ethical supply chain management or collecting efforts that lead to being recognised as a B Corporation.
At Koos, we are proud to have earned the B Corp certification by continuously prioritising social and environmental impact as an organisation and in the work we do.
Overall, there is a growing recognition that leading businesses, organisations and governments have social and environmental responsibility, and need to be accountable.
The good news? Design can be a driving force for good, and innovation can be harnessed to shift our society towards more sustainable, equitable, and resilient systems. Which involves creating new business models, products, and services that address social and environmental challenges, prioritise positive impact over profit, and instil collaboration over individualistic visions.