The Double Helix of Organizations: Social Performance and Social Innovation

Abstract

The article presents a model of double helix through which the absorptive capacity of knowledge allows social organizations to develop social innovations or improve their social performance. This paper contributes to the debate about the development of social innovation indicators at an organizational level by offering the results of the application of the pilot experience of a model to measure Regional Social Innovation, called RESINDEX. This model was applied to 282 organizations in the Basque Country-Spain (SINNERGIAK SOCIAL INNOVATION, 2013). Moreover, this paper analyses a series of consequences coming from this pilot experience that can guide social and regional innovation policies.