Agency Barriers of the Members of Silesian Senior NGOs in the Implementation of Social Innovation (Poland)

Abstract

One of the main barriers when implementing social innovation deemed to be significant is the agency barrier. The purpose of this research is to diagnose the structurally conditioned and awareness agency barriers that occur during the implementation of social innovation in the selected Silesian senior non-governmental organizations. It was assumed that, these days, an important parameter in determining agency is the digital competence possessed. Therefore, it is important to ascertain the level of digital competence of the examined non-governmental organization (NGO) leaders and members as the prosumers of social innovation, which determines the course of their innovative activities. The theoretical basis of research is Margaret Archer’s morphogenetic theory of structure and agency and her scheme of causal analysis. On this basis and using a qualitative analysis of data obtained during focus group interviews (FGIs) and computer-assisted web interviews (CAWIs) with the members of NGOs, a diagnosis is conducted concerning the occurrence of agency barriers in the processes of social innovation. It was found that the majority of respondents have the agency potential, knowledge, and competence to actively co-create Society 5.0. The obtained research results will allow educational and implementation projects (action research) to be carried out in the future that are adequate to the needs of this particular social group. At the theoretical level, the usefulness of the morphogenetic scheme was verified in a causal analysis to study the social agency of the members of senior NGOs.