Social value as a mechanism for linking public administrators with society: identifying the meaning, forms and process of social value creation

Payal Jain*, Richard Hazenberg, Fred Seddon, Simon Denny

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Despite public/private/third sector organisations creating and demonstrating the social value of their interventions, they face challenges in understanding and executing the process of social value creation, due to both the lack of definition and theoretically embedded explanatory models of social value. This article seeks to fill this gap by defining social value and identifying the process involved in social value creation from a Weberian standpoint of social action, class and power. Nine resource capitals were identified that contribute to the creation of social value in society: social, ethical, cultural, human/intellectual, physical, economic/financial, environmental/natural, religious, and political. The research utilises Q-methodology to develop a typology of social value and semi-structured interviews to understand the process of social value creation. The results reveal four-types of social value: action-driven, outcomes-driven, sustainability-driven and pluralism-driven, which can be derived through individual/collaborative and resource capitals-driven processes. An integrated framework for social value creation, embedded within a Weberian theoretical framework, is presented to assist policy-makers to commission social value, and public/private/third sector organisations to deliver social value.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)876-889
Number of pages14
JournalInternational Journal of Public Administration
Volume43
Issue number10
Early online date13 Sept 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Jul 2020

Keywords

  • Q methodology
  • Social value creation
  • intangible capital
  • intangible value
  • social impact
  • social value
  • Business and International Management
  • Public Administration

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  • Social Enterprise UK

    Richard Hazenberg (Academic)

    1 Feb 2022

    Activity: Public Engagement and OutreachWork on advisory panels for social, community, cultural and industry engagementResearch

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