The sociology of space as a catalyst for innovation in the health sector.
This paper reviews the role of space in facilitating innovation. It draws on the sociology of space in exploring the social practices, institutional forces and material complexity of how people and spaces interact. We assess how space influences the development of innovative solutions to challenges in the health sector. Our aim is to advance an understanding of the social production of space for healthcare innovation. We draw empirical examples from the Innovation Hub at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town to illustrate that innovation does not take place in an institutional vacuum, but requires space that facilitates interaction of different players. This paper demonstrates that space matters in promoting innovation, particularly through its influence on social relationships and networks. An attractive and novel space, which is different from the usual workplace, stimulates innovation, mainly through being a base for the creation of an ecosystem for the productive interaction of different players. The interaction is important in inspiring new ideas, facilitating creative thought processes, maintaining the flow of information and bringing innovation to life.
University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology, Division of Biomedical Engineering, P. Bag X3 Observatory, 7935, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: trust.saidi@uct.ac.za.
Trust
T
Saidi
University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business, Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Private Bag X3 Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: katusha.devilliers@gsb.uct.ac.za.
Katusha
K
de Villiers
University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology, Division of Biomedical Engineering, P. Bag X3 Observatory, 7935, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: tania.douglas@uct.ac.za.
Tania S
TS
Douglas
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004777:Environment; D004779:Environment Design / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D012931:Social Environment; D012961:Sociology; D013019:South Africa
Collaboration; Healthcare; Innovation hub; Social networks; Space