public sector innovation

Public sector innovation labs are popping up all over the place, and new research reveals just how many there are and what they are focused on.

Allowing public servants the space to try new things and sometimes fail requires a shift in thinking from politicians and the media in particular. New ideas must be backed by evidence, however.

Victorian public servants will have the opportunity to be randomly matched with others for coffee dates, as part of the government’s plan to foster links across silos and bolster innovation, under its new Public Sector Innovation Strategy.

Don’t over-plan and don’t get bogged down by consensus-seeking, says Singapore’s public sector innovation minister. He sets out his four key principles to boost new ideas.

No robots or lasers here: digital transformation doesn’t have to be big and flashy to make a difference, says Code for Australia head Alvaro Maz. Simple, labour-saving innovations allow resources to be used elsewhere.

Crises don’t allow the time or political environment to consider sensible policy options, but crisis-driven policy is becoming increasingly common. ‘Flourishing’ citizens are productive citizens? More ideas from the IPAA national conference.

Despite recent data security incidents, the APS is forging ahead with releasing more data. “I’m not sure we’re actually less innovative,” says the PM&C boss. Dealing with failure is still an area for improvement.

A hackathon at the Department of the Environment and Energy has re-invigorated its innovation culture with five new ideas to pilot. Here are three other ways a little internal competition paid off.

There is real public good to be gained when public sector organisations adopt workplace culture that supports innovation. Australia has some catching up to do on a global scale.

The OECD’s public sector innovation centre is calling for world-class examples of government innovation that are yet to be seen on the world stage. If selected, lucky team members could get a fully-funded overseas trip.

VIDEO: Watch the Australian Public Service’s own Shark Tank/Dragon’s Den battle of the best innovations as the finalists in the Public Sector Innovation Awards pitch their projects to the judges.

Unthinking custom and practice is the enemy of innovation, and unless questioned, will maintain the status quo. Ethics Centre chief Simon Longstaff explains how constructive subversion can help public sector leaders shake things up.

Don’t simply copy another country’s innovation promotion agency, argues a new report — consider how you’ll measure success, what your expectations are and how much autonomy is realistic.