Loading...

Technologies and Innovations in Regional Development: The European Union and its Strategies

by Borut Rončević (Volume editor) Victor Cepoi (Volume editor)
©2022 Edited Collection 160 Pages
Open Access

Summary

The subsequent volume revolves around the Social-Fields-Approach (SOFIA) as an
approach to conceptualization and operationalisation for the purpose of empirical
research. It contributes a new perspective and approach in research on innovation.
We believe that SOFIA can have implications for both academic research and practical
applications in reshaping the existing instruments and governance arrangements
in innovation policy. Whilst applying SOFIA, we urge researchers to leverage
the plurality of different qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches
in innovation studies, including less conventional methods, such as QCA (Ragin,
2008). Diligent application of SOFIA can also subsequently lead to the development
of high-level theoretical contributions.

Table Of Contents

  • Cover
  • Title
  • Copyright
  • About the editors
  • About the book
  • This eBook can be cited
  • Table of Contents
  • List of Contributors
  • Social-Fields-Approach (SOFIA) to Research on Social Change: Innovations as Social Fields (Borut Rončević, Dolores Modic, and Tea Golob)
  • EU, Grand Strategies, and Policy-Making
  • The EU Strategies and Policies on Artificial Intelligence and Their Impact on Fundamental Values (Petra Kleindienst)
  • Clusters vs Networks. A Dilemma for Regional Innovation Policy (Cristian Gangaliuc)
  • Innovation 2.0 for Smart, Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in Regional Context
  • Open Innovation and Its Impacts on Interorganisational Stability: A SOFIA Perspective Addressing the Sustainable Growth in Regional Context (Tamara Besednjak Valič)
  • Is Open Innovation (2.0) Leading to the Circular Economy (2.0)? (Urška Fric)
  • Technologies, Innovations and Regional Policy
  • Technologies, Innovation and Regional Policy – It Is Not All About Business (Alenka Pandiloska Jurak)
  • Innovation Process in the Framework of Social-Fields-Approach (SOFIA): A Qualitative Assessment for Ireland and Slovenia (Victor Cepoi)
  • Keywords Index
  • Authors’ Index

←6 | 7→

List of Contributors

Tamara Besednjak Valič

Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto, Slovenia

tamara.valic@fis.unm.si

Victor Cepoi

Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto, Slovenia

victor.cepoi@fis.unm.si

Urška Fric

Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto

urska.fric@fis.unm.si

Cristian Gangaliuc

Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto, Slovenia

cristian.gangaliuc@fis.unm.si

Tea Golob

School of Advanced Social Studies, Slovenia

tea.golob@fuds.si

Petra Kleindienst

School of Advanced Social Studies, Slovenia

petra.kleindiest.@fuds.si

Dolores Modic

Nord University, Norway

dolores.modic@nord.no

Alenka Pandiloska Jurak

Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto, Slovenia

alenka.pandiloska@fis.unm.si

Borut Rončević

Faculty of Information Studies, Slovenia

borut.roncevic@fis.unm.si

←8 | 9→

Borut Rončević,Dolores Modic, andTea Golob

Social-Fields-Approach (SOFIA) to Research on Social Change: Innovations as Social Fields

Abstract: This chapter introduces the Social-Fields-Approach (SOFIA) to research on social change. This is an approach to conceptualisation and operationalization for the purpose of empirical exploration. In SOFIA, we understand the empirical reality as a social field shaped by the three social forces: institutions, social networks, and cognitive frames. Social fields and the social forces are conceptualised and operationalised in line with theoretical background and specific research questions for the purpose of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research.

In this chapter we first examine the theoretical background of the approach and provide the relevant literature review. We continue by outlining the approach. This is followed by elucidating SOFIA by applying it to innovation systems. We conclude by deliberating on the promise of the approach, carefully considering the challenges and dilemmas, and pondering over the potential of this approach for the future.

Keywords: Social-Fields-Approach, operationalisation, innovations, institutions, social networks, cognitive frames

1. Introduction

The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously stated that the only constant in life is change. Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah, written in 1377, perhaps the first work in the field of social sciences, attempts to unveil a pattern of historic changes in social organisations. Saint-Simone discussed ‘social physiology’, the processes running inside society, at the beginning of the 19th century, and Auguste Comte, the first to publish the term ‘sociology’, dedicated significant attention to ‘social dynamics’ in addition to ‘social statics’.

While the simplistic organic metaphor, specifically the classic approach to social change (Sztompka, 1994), was relatively early superseded by more complex and nuanced approaches, social change has always been in the minds of scholars. Modern social research is, to a significant extent, an intellectual response to the need to understand ambiguities, complexities, and new realities caused by the unprecedented transformations in all areas of social life, a result of technological and socio-economic changes caused by the industrial revolution.

Details

Pages
160
Year
2022
ISBN (PDF)
9783631838907
ISBN (ePUB)
9783631838914
ISBN (MOBI)
9783631838921
ISBN (Hardcover)
9783631838068
DOI
10.3726/b17733
Open Access
CC-BY
Language
English
Publication date
2021 (December)
Published
Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Warszawa, Wien, 2022. 160 pp., 3 fig. col., 2 tables.

Biographical notes

Borut Rončević (Volume editor) Victor Cepoi (Volume editor)

Borut Roncˇevic´, PhD, is a professor of sociology at the School of Advanced Social Studies (Nova Gorica, Slovenia) and Faculty of Information Studies (Novo mesto, Slovenia). He is the fellow of Regional Studies Association. He is Jean Monnet Chair of Cultural Political Economy of Europe 2030 and the head of Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence “Technologies and Innovations in Regional Development” (2017–2020) and Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence “Strategic Observatory for Europe 2030.” He was a visiting scholar at academic institutions in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Lebanon and Croatia. Victor Cepoi, PhD, is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Information Studies (Novo mesto, Slovenia) and School of Advanced Social Studies (Nova Gorica, Slovenia). He has experience working in various national and international projects as a researcher and project manager: Interreg Danube Region, Erasmus +, etc. Currently, he is a holder of a Jean Monnet Module “Technology and Innovation Communities 2030”.

Previous

Title: Technologies and Innovations in Regional Development: The European Union and its Strategies
book preview page numper 1
book preview page numper 2
book preview page numper 3
book preview page numper 4
book preview page numper 5
book preview page numper 6
book preview page numper 7
book preview page numper 8
book preview page numper 9
book preview page numper 10
book preview page numper 11
book preview page numper 12
book preview page numper 13
book preview page numper 14
book preview page numper 15
book preview page numper 16
book preview page numper 17
book preview page numper 18
book preview page numper 19
book preview page numper 20
book preview page numper 21
book preview page numper 22
book preview page numper 23
book preview page numper 24
book preview page numper 25
book preview page numper 26
book preview page numper 27
book preview page numper 28
book preview page numper 29
book preview page numper 30
book preview page numper 31
book preview page numper 32
162 pages