Author: Georgia Levenson Keohane
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071801677
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 274
Book Description
ARE YOU READY FOR THE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP REVOLUTION? "In her book Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, Georgia Levenson Keohane provides a great insight into the emergence of social business and entrepreneurship. Her work provides a clear-sighted analysis of the many different dynamics at play as we test new models and solutions for global economic change." --MUHAMMAD YUNUS, 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, author of Banker to the Poor "Entrepreneurship and venture thinking don't reside only in Silicon Valley; they can be found in the nonprofit sector, and they are changing the social fabric of nations and cultures around the world. Just how the nonprofit sector has evolved into a powerful agent of social change is the story expertly told by Georgia Levenson Keohane in Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century. This is a hugely important book for those who want to understand the nonprofit world and its evolving role." --ELIOT SPITZER, former governor of New York and host of Current TV's Viewpoint "A timely, comprehensive, and well-written perspective on one of the most powerful, positive forces for social change in our world today. Keohane's book not only synthesizes her state-of-the-art knowledge of the field, but brings new insight into impact investing, the growing role of the social capital markets, the essentiality of valid performance measures, and the blurring of the lines between the social, public, and private sectors." --WILLIAM F. MEEHAN III, Raccoon Partners Lecturer in Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Director Emeritus, McKinsey and Company "There's been much talk of a 'social entrepreneurship' movement over the past decade. But what is it? How new is it? How has it influenced nonprofits as well as the private and public sectors? What are its virtues and its limitations? What risks are there in its embrace? Georgia Levenson Keohane has provided the most comprehensive, deeply researched, critical examination of social entrepreneurship to date." --PHIL BUCHANAN, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy Modern social entrepreneurship is transforming the way we invest our money and change the world. Within 10 years, investors will channel hundreds of billions of dollars to achieve positive social and environmental impact in housing, health, education, energy, and financial services across the globe. While there are extraordinary financial and social gains to be made, many unanswered questions remain. What's the best way to harness markets to promote social change? And what kinds of investments can we make across the nonprofit, private, and public sectors to achieve a more shared prosperity? This book demystifies the complex world of social entrepreneurship, providing all the information you need to understand social investment and innovation, whether you’re a private investor, policymaker, nonprofit manager, or passionate and engaged donor. In clear and straightforward language, former McKinsey executive Georgia Levenson Keohane charts the development of what the New York Times calls "the emerging hybrid of philanthropy and private equity." In Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, a must-read for anyone interested in innovative solutions to social problems, Keohane: Shows how social entrepreneurship has radically transformed the nonprofit, private, and public sectors Explores the promise of impact investing--what it really is and how it works Illuminates the challenges of bringing billions of dollars in private capital to bear on social problems Identifies smart public policies that promote social innovation at the local and national levels Recommends specific investment opportunities you can act on now With in-depth coverage of cutting-edge social programs and philanthropic initiatives, Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century provides the knowledge and tools you need to be a responsibly engaged investor and citizen in the coming decades.
Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century: Innovation Across the Nonprofit, Private, and Public Sectors
Author: Georgia Levenson Keohane
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071801677
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 274
Book Description
ARE YOU READY FOR THE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP REVOLUTION? "In her book Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, Georgia Levenson Keohane provides a great insight into the emergence of social business and entrepreneurship. Her work provides a clear-sighted analysis of the many different dynamics at play as we test new models and solutions for global economic change." --MUHAMMAD YUNUS, 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, author of Banker to the Poor "Entrepreneurship and venture thinking don't reside only in Silicon Valley; they can be found in the nonprofit sector, and they are changing the social fabric of nations and cultures around the world. Just how the nonprofit sector has evolved into a powerful agent of social change is the story expertly told by Georgia Levenson Keohane in Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century. This is a hugely important book for those who want to understand the nonprofit world and its evolving role." --ELIOT SPITZER, former governor of New York and host of Current TV's Viewpoint "A timely, comprehensive, and well-written perspective on one of the most powerful, positive forces for social change in our world today. Keohane's book not only synthesizes her state-of-the-art knowledge of the field, but brings new insight into impact investing, the growing role of the social capital markets, the essentiality of valid performance measures, and the blurring of the lines between the social, public, and private sectors." --WILLIAM F. MEEHAN III, Raccoon Partners Lecturer in Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Director Emeritus, McKinsey and Company "There's been much talk of a 'social entrepreneurship' movement over the past decade. But what is it? How new is it? How has it influenced nonprofits as well as the private and public sectors? What are its virtues and its limitations? What risks are there in its embrace? Georgia Levenson Keohane has provided the most comprehensive, deeply researched, critical examination of social entrepreneurship to date." --PHIL BUCHANAN, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy Modern social entrepreneurship is transforming the way we invest our money and change the world. Within 10 years, investors will channel hundreds of billions of dollars to achieve positive social and environmental impact in housing, health, education, energy, and financial services across the globe. While there are extraordinary financial and social gains to be made, many unanswered questions remain. What's the best way to harness markets to promote social change? And what kinds of investments can we make across the nonprofit, private, and public sectors to achieve a more shared prosperity? This book demystifies the complex world of social entrepreneurship, providing all the information you need to understand social investment and innovation, whether you’re a private investor, policymaker, nonprofit manager, or passionate and engaged donor. In clear and straightforward language, former McKinsey executive Georgia Levenson Keohane charts the development of what the New York Times calls "the emerging hybrid of philanthropy and private equity." In Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, a must-read for anyone interested in innovative solutions to social problems, Keohane: Shows how social entrepreneurship has radically transformed the nonprofit, private, and public sectors Explores the promise of impact investing--what it really is and how it works Illuminates the challenges of bringing billions of dollars in private capital to bear on social problems Identifies smart public policies that promote social innovation at the local and national levels Recommends specific investment opportunities you can act on now With in-depth coverage of cutting-edge social programs and philanthropic initiatives, Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century provides the knowledge and tools you need to be a responsibly engaged investor and citizen in the coming decades.
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071801677
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 274
Book Description
ARE YOU READY FOR THE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP REVOLUTION? "In her book Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, Georgia Levenson Keohane provides a great insight into the emergence of social business and entrepreneurship. Her work provides a clear-sighted analysis of the many different dynamics at play as we test new models and solutions for global economic change." --MUHAMMAD YUNUS, 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, author of Banker to the Poor "Entrepreneurship and venture thinking don't reside only in Silicon Valley; they can be found in the nonprofit sector, and they are changing the social fabric of nations and cultures around the world. Just how the nonprofit sector has evolved into a powerful agent of social change is the story expertly told by Georgia Levenson Keohane in Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century. This is a hugely important book for those who want to understand the nonprofit world and its evolving role." --ELIOT SPITZER, former governor of New York and host of Current TV's Viewpoint "A timely, comprehensive, and well-written perspective on one of the most powerful, positive forces for social change in our world today. Keohane's book not only synthesizes her state-of-the-art knowledge of the field, but brings new insight into impact investing, the growing role of the social capital markets, the essentiality of valid performance measures, and the blurring of the lines between the social, public, and private sectors." --WILLIAM F. MEEHAN III, Raccoon Partners Lecturer in Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Director Emeritus, McKinsey and Company "There's been much talk of a 'social entrepreneurship' movement over the past decade. But what is it? How new is it? How has it influenced nonprofits as well as the private and public sectors? What are its virtues and its limitations? What risks are there in its embrace? Georgia Levenson Keohane has provided the most comprehensive, deeply researched, critical examination of social entrepreneurship to date." --PHIL BUCHANAN, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy Modern social entrepreneurship is transforming the way we invest our money and change the world. Within 10 years, investors will channel hundreds of billions of dollars to achieve positive social and environmental impact in housing, health, education, energy, and financial services across the globe. While there are extraordinary financial and social gains to be made, many unanswered questions remain. What's the best way to harness markets to promote social change? And what kinds of investments can we make across the nonprofit, private, and public sectors to achieve a more shared prosperity? This book demystifies the complex world of social entrepreneurship, providing all the information you need to understand social investment and innovation, whether you’re a private investor, policymaker, nonprofit manager, or passionate and engaged donor. In clear and straightforward language, former McKinsey executive Georgia Levenson Keohane charts the development of what the New York Times calls "the emerging hybrid of philanthropy and private equity." In Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, a must-read for anyone interested in innovative solutions to social problems, Keohane: Shows how social entrepreneurship has radically transformed the nonprofit, private, and public sectors Explores the promise of impact investing--what it really is and how it works Illuminates the challenges of bringing billions of dollars in private capital to bear on social problems Identifies smart public policies that promote social innovation at the local and national levels Recommends specific investment opportunities you can act on now With in-depth coverage of cutting-edge social programs and philanthropic initiatives, Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century provides the knowledge and tools you need to be a responsibly engaged investor and citizen in the coming decades.
Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century: Innovation Across the Nonprofit, Private, and Public Sectors
Author: Georgia Levenson Keohane
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071801685
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 273
Book Description
An expert’s inside look into the ways social entrepreneurship is changing the world Whether you’re a policymaker, investor, or involved in a nonprofit, Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century gives you the knowledge you need to make the best possible decisions for the future. A former McKinsey consultant reveals how social entrepreneurship has filtered into the workings of government and private enterprise, where social sector values are now shaping “social impact” capitalism. Georgia Levenson Keohane is a Roosevelt Institute fellow, foundation executive, and former McKinsey consultant. She advises a range of poverty-fighting organizations, including philanthropies (Robin Hood Foundation), educational entities (New York City Charter School Center), community development organizations (Civic Builders), and think tanks (The Aspen Institute). She is an adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School.
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071801685
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 273
Book Description
An expert’s inside look into the ways social entrepreneurship is changing the world Whether you’re a policymaker, investor, or involved in a nonprofit, Social Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century gives you the knowledge you need to make the best possible decisions for the future. A former McKinsey consultant reveals how social entrepreneurship has filtered into the workings of government and private enterprise, where social sector values are now shaping “social impact” capitalism. Georgia Levenson Keohane is a Roosevelt Institute fellow, foundation executive, and former McKinsey consultant. She advises a range of poverty-fighting organizations, including philanthropies (Robin Hood Foundation), educational entities (New York City Charter School Center), community development organizations (Civic Builders), and think tanks (The Aspen Institute). She is an adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School.
Capital and the Common Good
Author: Georgia Levenson Keohane
Publisher: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 023154166X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 263
Book Description
Despite social and economic advances around the world, poverty and disease persist, exacerbated by the mounting challenges of climate change, natural disasters, political conflict, mass migration, and economic inequality. While governments commit to addressing these challenges, traditional public and philanthropic dollars are not enough. Here, innovative finance has shown a way forward: by borrowing techniques from the world of finance, we can raise capital for social investments today. Innovative finance has provided polio vaccines to children in the DRC, crop insurance to farmers in India, pay-as-you-go solar electricity to Kenyans, and affordable housing and transportation to New Yorkers. It has helped governmental, commercial, and philanthropic resources meet the needs of the poor and underserved and build a more sustainable and inclusive prosperity. Capital and the Common Good shows how market failure in one context can be solved with market solutions from another: an expert in securitization bundles future development aid into bonds to pay for vaccines today; an entrepreneur turns a mobile phone into an array of financial services for the unbanked; and policy makers adapt pay-for-success models from the world of infrastructure to human services like early childhood education, maternal health, and job training. Revisiting the successes and missteps of these efforts, Georgia Levenson Keohane argues that innovative finance is as much about incentives and sound decision-making as it is about money. When it works, innovative finance gives us the tools, motivation, and security to invest in our shared future.
Publisher: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 023154166X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 263
Book Description
Despite social and economic advances around the world, poverty and disease persist, exacerbated by the mounting challenges of climate change, natural disasters, political conflict, mass migration, and economic inequality. While governments commit to addressing these challenges, traditional public and philanthropic dollars are not enough. Here, innovative finance has shown a way forward: by borrowing techniques from the world of finance, we can raise capital for social investments today. Innovative finance has provided polio vaccines to children in the DRC, crop insurance to farmers in India, pay-as-you-go solar electricity to Kenyans, and affordable housing and transportation to New Yorkers. It has helped governmental, commercial, and philanthropic resources meet the needs of the poor and underserved and build a more sustainable and inclusive prosperity. Capital and the Common Good shows how market failure in one context can be solved with market solutions from another: an expert in securitization bundles future development aid into bonds to pay for vaccines today; an entrepreneur turns a mobile phone into an array of financial services for the unbanked; and policy makers adapt pay-for-success models from the world of infrastructure to human services like early childhood education, maternal health, and job training. Revisiting the successes and missteps of these efforts, Georgia Levenson Keohane argues that innovative finance is as much about incentives and sound decision-making as it is about money. When it works, innovative finance gives us the tools, motivation, and security to invest in our shared future.
The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector
Author: J Steven Ott
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 100033807X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 729
Book Description
The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector is a collection of insightful and influential classic and recent readings on the existence, forms, and functions of the nonprofit sector—the sector that sits between the market and government. The readings encompass a wide variety of perspectives and disciplines and cover everything from Andrew Carnegie’s turn-of-the-century philosophy of philanthropy to the most recent writings of current scholars and practitioners. Each of the text’s ten parts opens with a framing essay by the editors that provides an overview of the central themes and issues, as well as sometimes competing points of view. The fourth edition of this comprehensive volume includes both new and classic readings, as well as two new sections on the international NGO sector and theories about intersectoral relations. The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector, Fourth Edition is therefore an impressively up-to-date reader designed to provide students of nonprofit and public management with a thorough overview of this growing field.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 100033807X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 729
Book Description
The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector is a collection of insightful and influential classic and recent readings on the existence, forms, and functions of the nonprofit sector—the sector that sits between the market and government. The readings encompass a wide variety of perspectives and disciplines and cover everything from Andrew Carnegie’s turn-of-the-century philosophy of philanthropy to the most recent writings of current scholars and practitioners. Each of the text’s ten parts opens with a framing essay by the editors that provides an overview of the central themes and issues, as well as sometimes competing points of view. The fourth edition of this comprehensive volume includes both new and classic readings, as well as two new sections on the international NGO sector and theories about intersectoral relations. The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector, Fourth Edition is therefore an impressively up-to-date reader designed to provide students of nonprofit and public management with a thorough overview of this growing field.
Social Entrepreneurship and Tourism
Author: Pauline J. Sheldon
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 331946518X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 336
Book Description
This volume explores the links between the rapidly growing phenomenon of social entrepreneurship (SE) and the international tourism and hospitality industry. This unique industry is particularly ripe for transformation by SE and the book’s authors delve deeply into the reasons for this. The book has three parts. The first creates a conceptual and theoretical framework for understanding the uniqueness of SE in the tourism context. The second examines different communities of practice where SE is being applied in tourism. The third is a rich collection of case studies from eight countries where tourism SE is already having an impact. The book’s authors address the topic from many different angles, disciplinary backgrounds and geographic areas. Many case study authors are practicing social entrepreneurs who share their successes, challenges and experience with tourism-related projects. The book also proposes a research agenda and educational programmatic changes needed to support tourism SE. As these are developed, tourism SE will bring innovation to destinations, transformation of their economic and social structures, and contribution to a better world. The book has many insights and resources for scholars and practitioners alike to usher in this transformation.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 331946518X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 336
Book Description
This volume explores the links between the rapidly growing phenomenon of social entrepreneurship (SE) and the international tourism and hospitality industry. This unique industry is particularly ripe for transformation by SE and the book’s authors delve deeply into the reasons for this. The book has three parts. The first creates a conceptual and theoretical framework for understanding the uniqueness of SE in the tourism context. The second examines different communities of practice where SE is being applied in tourism. The third is a rich collection of case studies from eight countries where tourism SE is already having an impact. The book’s authors address the topic from many different angles, disciplinary backgrounds and geographic areas. Many case study authors are practicing social entrepreneurs who share their successes, challenges and experience with tourism-related projects. The book also proposes a research agenda and educational programmatic changes needed to support tourism SE. As these are developed, tourism SE will bring innovation to destinations, transformation of their economic and social structures, and contribution to a better world. The book has many insights and resources for scholars and practitioners alike to usher in this transformation.
ECIE 2018 13th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Author: Professor Carlos Costa
Publisher: Academic Conferences and publishing limited
ISBN: 1911218980
Category : Entrepreneurship
Languages : en
Pages : 1107
Book Description
Publisher: Academic Conferences and publishing limited
ISBN: 1911218980
Category : Entrepreneurship
Languages : en
Pages : 1107
Book Description
A Path Appears
Author: Nicholas Kristof
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0345805100
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 402
Book Description
An exploration of how altruism affects us, what are the markers for success, and how to avoid the pitfalls—with scrupulous research and on-the-ground reporting from the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists and bestselling authors of Half a Sky and Tightrope Kristof and WuDunn will inspire you to "change lives for the better, including your own (The New York Times Book Review). In their recounting of astonishing stories from the front lines of social progress, we see the compelling, inspiring truth of how real people have changed the world, underscoring that one person can make a difference. A Path Appears offers practical, results-driven advice on how best each of us can give and reveals the lasting benefits we gain in return. Kristof and WuDunn know better than most how many urgent challenges communities around the world face today. Here they offer a timely beacon of hope for our collective future.
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0345805100
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 402
Book Description
An exploration of how altruism affects us, what are the markers for success, and how to avoid the pitfalls—with scrupulous research and on-the-ground reporting from the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists and bestselling authors of Half a Sky and Tightrope Kristof and WuDunn will inspire you to "change lives for the better, including your own (The New York Times Book Review). In their recounting of astonishing stories from the front lines of social progress, we see the compelling, inspiring truth of how real people have changed the world, underscoring that one person can make a difference. A Path Appears offers practical, results-driven advice on how best each of us can give and reveals the lasting benefits we gain in return. Kristof and WuDunn know better than most how many urgent challenges communities around the world face today. Here they offer a timely beacon of hope for our collective future.
Introduction to Social Innovation
Author: Gilberto Marzano
Publisher: Mimesis
ISBN: 8869770893
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 93
Book Description
It is commonly shared the idea that social innovation is the creation of social value by solving social problems. Accordingly, social innovation can be deemed to be the production of new solutions to social problems in a more effective, efficient, and sustainable way. Analyzing the consequences of the current economic crisis and its impact on health care services, there is who has advanced the idea that social innovation can constitute an effective strategy to counter-balance the retrenchment of public social provision.This book tackles the multiple facets of social innovation focusing on its relationship with the new technologies and the new forms of entrepreneurship.
Publisher: Mimesis
ISBN: 8869770893
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 93
Book Description
It is commonly shared the idea that social innovation is the creation of social value by solving social problems. Accordingly, social innovation can be deemed to be the production of new solutions to social problems in a more effective, efficient, and sustainable way. Analyzing the consequences of the current economic crisis and its impact on health care services, there is who has advanced the idea that social innovation can constitute an effective strategy to counter-balance the retrenchment of public social provision.This book tackles the multiple facets of social innovation focusing on its relationship with the new technologies and the new forms of entrepreneurship.
Getting Beyond Better
Author: Roger L. Martin
Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
ISBN: 1633690695
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 265
Book Description
Who drives transformation in society? How do they do it? In this compelling book, strategy guru Roger L. Martin and Skoll Foundation President and CEO Sally R. Osberg describe how social entrepreneurs target systems that exist in a stable but unjust equilibrium and transform them into entirely new, superior, and sustainable equilibria. All of these leaders--call them disrupters, visionaries, or changemakers--develop, build, and scale their solutions in ways that bring about the truly revolutionary change that makes the world a fairer and better place. The book begins with a probing and useful theory of social entrepreneurship, moving through history to illuminate what it is, how it works, and the nature of its role in modern society. The authors then set out a framework for understanding how successful social entrepreneuars actually go about producing transformative change. There are four key stages: understanding the world; envisioning a new future; building a model for change; and scaling the solution. With both depth and nuance, Martin and Osberg offer rich examples and personal stories and share lessons and tools invaluable to anyone who aspires to drive positive change, whatever the context. Getting Beyond Better sets forth a bold new framework, demonstrating how and why meaningful change actually happens in the world and providing concrete lessons and a practical model for businesses, policymakers, civil society organizations, and individuals who seek to transform our world for good.
Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
ISBN: 1633690695
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 265
Book Description
Who drives transformation in society? How do they do it? In this compelling book, strategy guru Roger L. Martin and Skoll Foundation President and CEO Sally R. Osberg describe how social entrepreneurs target systems that exist in a stable but unjust equilibrium and transform them into entirely new, superior, and sustainable equilibria. All of these leaders--call them disrupters, visionaries, or changemakers--develop, build, and scale their solutions in ways that bring about the truly revolutionary change that makes the world a fairer and better place. The book begins with a probing and useful theory of social entrepreneurship, moving through history to illuminate what it is, how it works, and the nature of its role in modern society. The authors then set out a framework for understanding how successful social entrepreneuars actually go about producing transformative change. There are four key stages: understanding the world; envisioning a new future; building a model for change; and scaling the solution. With both depth and nuance, Martin and Osberg offer rich examples and personal stories and share lessons and tools invaluable to anyone who aspires to drive positive change, whatever the context. Getting Beyond Better sets forth a bold new framework, demonstrating how and why meaningful change actually happens in the world and providing concrete lessons and a practical model for businesses, policymakers, civil society organizations, and individuals who seek to transform our world for good.
Co-design and Social Innovation
Author: Garth Britton
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317282604
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
Although co-design has been practised in new service and product development for some years, it has only recently begun to appear in the burgeoning field of social innovation. It appears to be well-attuned to this new context, offering as it does an open-ended relational process to generate novel solutions to problems whose very definition seems to escape more conventional approaches. However, even less research attention has been paid to co-design than to social innovation. This book explores the potential of co-design as a social innovation process. It reviews the diverse theoretical and disciplinary foundations on which co-design is based. It proposes a framework for understanding co-design as a cohesive practice across the extremely broad scope of its potential applications. It explores appropriate approaches to governance and evaluation of co-design initiatives and outlines the key issues and limitations on its use. Although it is intended to provide a robust theoretical basis for researching co-design initiatives, it will also be of interest to anyone who is contemplating putting co-design into practice.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317282604
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
Although co-design has been practised in new service and product development for some years, it has only recently begun to appear in the burgeoning field of social innovation. It appears to be well-attuned to this new context, offering as it does an open-ended relational process to generate novel solutions to problems whose very definition seems to escape more conventional approaches. However, even less research attention has been paid to co-design than to social innovation. This book explores the potential of co-design as a social innovation process. It reviews the diverse theoretical and disciplinary foundations on which co-design is based. It proposes a framework for understanding co-design as a cohesive practice across the extremely broad scope of its potential applications. It explores appropriate approaches to governance and evaluation of co-design initiatives and outlines the key issues and limitations on its use. Although it is intended to provide a robust theoretical basis for researching co-design initiatives, it will also be of interest to anyone who is contemplating putting co-design into practice.