Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

Good Practices and InnovATIONS in Public Administration
Lessons Learned on Innovation in Public Governance
By examining the successful cases of the UNPSA, a number of key principles and
strategies for innovation emerge as prominent. Although each case has its own specific
challenge and solution, it is important to mention that common denominators
can be identified in all innovations.
In order to understand what are the necessary ingredients that turn an innovation
into a success, it is important to review what are the steps an innovation has to follow
on the way to success. Innovation in government involves agents of change,
processes, and mechanisms, as well as value systems and normative orders, technology
and resources (not necessarily financial). The will of the people implicated in
solving a problem as well as leadership are critical components of the process. In
order to learn from and adapt an innovation to one’s own context, the following
steps can be taken:
• Definition of the problem;
• Establishment of a strategic plan framework;
• Agreement upon and adoption of guidelines;
• Documentation (circumstances, characteristics, results) in broad and diverse
forms (through, for example, on-line databases; analytical case studies, video
cameras to document the innovation, etc.);
• Dissemination of results;
• Monitoring of implementation;
• Coordination and integration into the policy framework;
• Sustainability of the innovation (institutionalized rather than linked to a particular
person).
The experience of the UNPSA exemplifies that in order to consolidate democracy,
public services need to be efficient and accessible to all. In order to foster innovation
in public service delivery, the following factors are critical to building an enabling
environment for innovation, including:
• Effective leadership: Leaders at all levels should be committed to enhance the
quality of citizens’ lives. Their decisions and actions should constantly focus
on promoting the well-being of citizens.Therefore, innovation should only be
pursued if it has a positive effect on society. Leadership usually means going
against the traditional way of doing business; bringing people along to a new
way of thinking, or recognizing what needs to be done that nobody else recognizes.
Leaders should be determined to take risks and tolerate uncertainties that
any change brings about. They should embrace change as an abiding philosophy
and focus on innovations as a new thrust for the public service. Leaders’
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