Unlocking Success: How Social Innovators Build Legitimacy in Networks
Social innovators in networks need to establish legitimacy for their initiatives to access resources. A study of a home care sector network found that three types of legitimacy are crucial: interorganizational, multilevel, and external. The process involves courting and demonstrating commitment, driven by conflicting tensions and role promotion. This research sheds light on how social innovations gain legitimacy in interorganizational networks.