The Concept of Responsible Innovation

Abstract

The importance of responsible innovation in organization’s innovative activity is well recognized and has inspired a wealth of research in finding the dimensions of responsible innovations. The unpredictable consequences of the innovations are clearly understood, but at the current situation exists the focus to analyze the social, economical, ecological and ethical results after the launch of the innovation. Theoretical analysis of responsible innovation concept reveals few observations. First, responsible innovation concept is grounded by four main approaches: business insight, organizational cultural profile, involvement of stakeholders, and structural stage-gate process. Second, the conception of responsible innovation is the balanced entirety of the innovative activity development, when decisions are based on the stage-gate principle, involvement of stakeholders, and assessment through the organizational ethical-cultural profile in order to evaluate social, ecological, economical and ethical responsibilities for the society and environment. Third, the concept of responsible innovation is grounded by the open innovation model, which integrates the principles of stage-gate, social and inclusive innovations. Fourth, the multidisciplinary concept of responsible innovation requires analyzing social, economical, ecological and ethical parameters that can be assured by using the principles of anticipation, inclusion and reflection.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ppaa.13.3.8302