Corporate Social Innovation in a BOP context

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2024-07-10

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en

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There is an increasing number of multinationals engaging in Corporate Social Innovation (CSI) in the BOP context, as they see individuals within this context as potential customers and sources of innovation. This study examines the access to care project of Philips in Africa, gaining insights into the social value creation of multinationals through tacit knowledge exchange in business-nonprofit partnerships. This study contributes to the literature by looking into business-nonprofit partnerships in the BOP context, which is rather underexposed. A qualitative deductive research approach of a document analysis and semi-structured interviews with employees of Philips and Amref were conducted. The results show that an NGO is a valuable partner and the tacit knowledge exchange forms used within the partnership relevant for CSI consist of knowledge of the local market, engagement with local communities, skills of implementation and relationship with the government of the developing country. Findings reveal that the knowledge exchange result in a sustainable business model of the multinational aligned with the needs of the local community and thereby achieving social value creation. This research pioneers the viewpoint that multinationals learn how to generate social value through partnership experience and thus suggests that multinationals focusing on CSI should engage in partnerships with NGOs or governments.

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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen