Public sector innovation—From theory to measurement

Abstract

a b s t r a c tWhile there is growing awareness that much innovation currently takes place in the public sector, it is also recognised that more systematic efforts to promote innovation are needed to address the economic and societal challenges that public sectors face. However, there is a lack of a common understanding of what public sector innovation is and a lack of a measurement framework that can shed light on innovation processes in public sector organisations. Based on insights generated in a recent Nordic pilot study, this paper seeks to contribute to fill this gap. The paper discusses how public sector innovation can be captured and to what extent measurement can be based on frameworks originally developed in a private sector context. While there are important differences between the public and the private sector that should be reflected in a measurement framework, there is also considerable common ground that can be drawn upon.

Organizational factors, organizational culture, job satisfaction and entrepreneurial orientation in public administration

“…Barriers may be related to other internal conditions, such as scant time availability or lack of incentives for human resources to innovate. Finally, hurdles can constitute external junctures, such as user resistance to change or regulatory requisitions (Bloch & Bugge, 2013).…”

Why is it difficult to design innovative IT? : An agential realist study of designing IT for healthcare innovation

“…One reason for this is that failed innovation attempts may be exposed by media and the political opposition (Borins, 2001). The public sector also tends to be slower in transforming their work and organization due to its conservative and bureaucratic organization (Albury, 2005;Bloch & Bugge, 2013).…”

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