"Si può fare": le imprese sociali dell'Alto Vicentino fra tradizione e innovazione. Uno studio empirico

The thesis deals with the issue of innovation in social enterprises, particularly through a comparison with the same firms that operate on more traditional models. Social enterprises in recent decades have come to assume a more central position in the process of service delivery to the person, assuming a role, however, often subordinate to the lender and the government coming in time to lose a large margin of autonomy. Despite the strong push towards the approval of practices and cultures, though fragmentary empirical relevance at the time, however, lead us to believe can be a counter. Based on mainstream literature it was assumed that the plurality of funding, the multi-stakeholder governance structure, the number and intensity of ties with the reference environment and the possession of an entrepreneurial culture were distinctive features of the innovative model. In light of what we are working on understanding the significance and social relevance of the phenomenon considered innovative in the area (we have analyzed the cooperatives belonging to one of the leading consortia operating in Vicenza), along with the reasons which led to innovative social enterprises take alternative routes in the statement of its mission. To do this we used a methodological approach based on the integration of quantitative analysis (questionnaires to all the cooperatives in the sample, consisting of 62 units) and qualitative (interviews with privileged witnesses and life stories), although the cut of the research of thumb can be said in all respects exploratory. In the second phase of the research have selected four cases by type, based on the findings in the questionnaires. The conclusions of this work, even with levels of approximation related to the limited sample examined, cut mainly exploratory research and resources put in place, indicate that there are actually experiences of innovation in the field of social cooperation, albeit the moment it is a content number of cases, the vivacity and enthusiasm with which these projects are brought forward and the state of health enjoyed by cooperatives have begun to explore the unknown places of innovation, encourage the promotion of other future experiences. As we predicted in the initial assumptions of the most innovative features are due to meet the requirements of which we have said. The future of social enterprises is therefore closely linked to the possibility of investing in processes of production of goods and services that enable additional resources to those traditionally be found in the companies profits, encouraging participation and involvement of multiple stakeholders, both internal and external , governing a plurality of interests and promoting a policy of transparency and control. We believe that attributing value to the above features can actually help to create an environment conducive to the development of innovative organizations. Of course it is above all a cultural shift, one that asks for social enterprises today. Times are difficult and no doubt for many of the realities encountered are perhaps not yet ripe to take the best road to change. However, this way seems to be required in most cases, since the instrumental role of social enterprises, subservient to the purposes of paying government seems to have its days numbered. The economic crisis will force the need for change and when that time comes it would be preferable to find at least be prepared, if not ready. Take therefore an internal configuration that can support instances of the change will help to safeguard the existence and the centrality of an associative phenomenon, that of cooperation and social enterprise, which has certainly a lot more to say.