A Spiral of Innovation Framework for Social Entrepreneurship: Social Innovation at the Generational Divide in an Indigenous Context

This paper explores the notion of social innovation as it arises in indigenous communities. In particular, we consider entrepreneurial activity in Maori communities where innovation arises through the interaction of the young opportunity seeking entrepreneur (potiki) and the elder Statesperson (rangatira). To explore this behavior in more detail we draw on a neoSchumpeterian understanding of innovation as self-organization: new combinations are seen as "the deliberate formation and re-formation of cooperating groups" (Foster, 2000: 319). We consider social entrepreneurship in the form of indigenous entrepreneurship, in particular Maori entrepreneurship. Indigenous entrepreneurship operates at the intersection of social and economic entrepreneurship (Anderson et ah, 2006). It incorporates both social and economic entrepreneurial activity and explicitly acknowledges the particular historical and cultural context from which they arise (Tapsell & Woods, 2007). We discuss Maori entrepreneurship as a complex adaptive system and provide an illustrative example of one social entrepreneurship venture: Maori Maps. Based on this discussion we suggest that innovation can usefully be thought of as a double spiral combining the twin flows of opportunity and heritage. Introduction Defining social entrepreneurship has proven to be a challenging task (see Massetti; Seitanidi; and Trexler all in this volume as well as: Cheli, 2007; Roberts & Woods 2005; Austin et al, 2006; Dorado, 2006). However, two things are common across the plethora of definitions emerging over the past two decades: 1) an underlying drive to create social value; and, 2) activity characterized by change and the creation of something new rather than the replication of existing enterprises or processes (Austin et al., 2006). Given that change and innovation are inextricably woven within complexity thinking, complexity science makes sense as a relevant perspective to take when engaging in entrepreneurial research (McKelvey, 2004: 314). It also provides an opportunity to connect social entrepreneurship to the theoretical foundations of economic entrepreneurship. In particular, we suggest that a neo-Schumpeterian understanding of innovation as self-organization creates a rich avenue from which to explore social entrepreneurship and innovation. Hence, for the purposes of this paper we wish to focus on those aspects of complexity science that assist our understanding of how innovation can occur as self-organization within a social context. To do this we first provide some brief background on complexity science and Schumpeterian thinking as it relates to self-organization and complex adaptive systems. We then discuss complex adaptive systems with reference to interactions that occur within a social structure. The specific structure that we explore is the Maori tribal community and the interactions between the potiki (young opportunity seeker) and the rangatira (chiefly elder) that lead to social innovation. We then discuss the emergence of "Maori Maps" as an example of social innovation. Here opportunity, as sought by potiki within the context of tribal heritage, shapes the path to innovation. We suggest that innovation can usefully be thought of as a recurring double spiral, the "Spiral of Innovation," which in Maori is symbolically represented by the double spiral of creation (Takarangi), incorporating opportunity and heritage. Background A complex system comprises numerous agents interacting according to particular rules; the system is adaptive in that agents through their interactions coadapt, colearn and coevolve (Holland, 1995; Maguire & McKelvey, 1999). Complex adaptive systems (CAS) are "neural like networks of interacting, interdependent agents who are bonded in a cooperative dynamic by common goals, outlook, rules etc" (Uhl-Bien et al., 2007: 299). They have multiple, overlapping hierarchies and are linked together in a dynamic interactive network. …