S02-E09 - Differentiated organisational logics in social and environmental innovation: a comparative analysis between social economy enterprises and conventional enterprises

The 9th episode of the 2nd season of podNECE presents a study that investigates how digital maturity, social and environmental practices, and external collaboration influence innovation within both social economy enterprises (SEE) and conventional firms (NSEE). By analyzing European survey data, the authors demonstrate that while both types of organizations benefit from these drivers, their effectiveness depends on the specific organisational logic of the enterprise. Digital maturity and environmental practices are consistent catalysts for innovation, but digitalization yields higher returns for mission-oriented SEEs than for profit-driven entities. The study reveals that external partnerships do not directly spark innovation on their own; instead, they act as an amplifier for social practices specifically within social economy contexts. Ultimately, the source argues that sustainable innovation is not a universal formula but a result of internal commitments and external openness tailored to a firm’s core mission.https://www.doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-10-2025-1385podNECE is a podcast by NECE - Research Centre for Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Portugal.