RISE typology for technology-enabled social impact in business

Purpose This study aims to introduce the RISE Typology (Risk-Impact Strategic Evaluation), a novel typology that categorises organisational approaches to technology implementation based on risk tolerance and Social Impact Orientation. It provides strategic guidance for businesses seeking to leverage emerging technologies such as service robots for both commercial and social impact. Design/methodology/approach This research synthesises literature from service management, robotics and social impact to propose a structured typology for implementing service robots in business environments. Findings The RISE Typology identifies four distinct organisational personas for implementing robots or other technologies with potential for both risk and social impact: Purposeful Guardian, Transformative Champion, Pragmatic Adopter and Strategic Contender. Each persona represents a unique approach to balancing risk considerations with social impact goals, offering tailored guidance for implementation. Originality/value The central contribution of this paper lies in the development of the proposed RISE Typology, which acknowledges and addresses the gap between technological innovation, risk management and Social Impact Orientation.