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Governments around the world face a vast array of challenges, from declining public trust to technological disruption, from budget reductions to talent shortages, which all need innovative responses. But in the face of demanding and often disgruntled citizens, new economic, social and environmental challenges, as well as accelerating technological change, will an incremental, largely managerially-mandated, model of innovation be sufficient?
To help provide some much needed light on this question, and as part of its quarterly brand theme on the “power of connections”, ACCA organised a conference titled Creating value and driving sustainability, accountability and the digital agenda through Public Sector Innovationat theECA in Luxembourg.
The impressive line-up of experts myth-busted the assumption that innovation and the public sector are antithetical, and discussed how to cultivatepublic sector innovation. The second panel explored areas where governments are applying innovative practices to improve outcomes for citizens, create value, while driving sustainability, accountability and the digital agenda, including Blockchain.
Discussions confirmed that the public sector can, and should, be a driver of innovation. Creating innovation through governments and the public sector is often the most impactful but also the harder route. The OECD - OPSI model shows that innovation needs to be supported in different ways and as a consequence, there are a variety of approaches - top down/bottom up- to cultivate innovation in the public sector.
The debate also revealed that a common element among the different paths towards innovation is the participatory role of employees in designing and implementing the practice, along with dialogue with employee representatives regarding changes and the future of the service. It also highlighted the importance of collaborative innovation, where the public sector develop new services, policies, technologies or processes together with other government organisations, private actors and citizens.