Enrico Testi Director of International Relations, Yunus Social Business Centre University of Florence
Jaroslava Hrab tovรก Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Humanities, Czech Republic
David Morgan Procurement of cer, Cornwall Council
Bruno Conte Social Entrepreneur and Innovator, Founder and President Social4Social - The Social Innovation Cloud Lab
Jaya Chakrabarti MBE, CEO Nameless media group Ltd/ Big Red Square, Visiting Fellow, University of Northampton
The concept of Social value in term of society s well being is well de ned within the paradigm of human development and within the capability approach of Nobel Prize Prof. Amartya Sen. By adopting this perspective social value is therefore conceived as the opportunity for individuals and communities to live the life they give value to. Project and activities aimed at creating social value should therefore improve the capability of the individuals to ourish according to their values and priorities.
In the context of my understanding of social value, I would use an interpretation of the Czech sociologist Petrusek. Social value means the social institution of a type of desired behavior, and is a part of culture of society, related to ethics, morals and standards. There are facets of material and spiritual nature that affect human behavior to ensure its conformity with the requirements of society and cultural system. They express man's relationship to the facts that surround him/her, they represent the criteria and yardstick for the assessment and orientation of human beings in the world, and lead an individual to correct behavior. They are grounded in past negotiations, transmitting and receiving by social learning. Individuals identify with them and accept them for themselves and strive to achieve them .
Social Value is about driving positive change through the effective procurement and commissioning of public sector contracts. Central to this concept is baving providers deliver wider societal aims including; environmental sustainability, social cohesion and a stronger economy, over and above the core elements of the contract .
Social Value it s me and us , impacting together. My ability to decide and/or cause things happen to create well-being and sustainability together with my neighbor, community or country: regardless having me as citizen, caregiver, patient, voter, entrepreneur or employee, or being referred as a sector like health, culture, inclusion or being approached by politics, public administration, enterprises, nancial institutions or non pro t organizations. So evident to all of us but dif cult to be well de ned and to be precisely measured .
Social value, in my mind, embodies the ethics of an organisation in relation to its community (customers and suppliers) and the planet. It is the magnitude of the impact of the investment made into the ecosystem above and beyond the normal day-to-day operations and functions of that organisation .
April 2015
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