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Public Engagement - Innovative Capacity Framework

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updated at 31 Jan 2022
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Tensions regarding innovation within the public sector are often present. Underlying attitudes and barriers to innovation, such as risk aversion and hierarchical structures, are often embedded in the rules and regulations or become part of the wider organisational culture (OECD, 2017a) or principles of public administration. Tensions can also exist while trying to achieve the optimal balance of organisational ambidexterity, which involves balancing efficiency or exploitation of current activities versus exploration through innovation (Cannaerts, et al., 2020).

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  • JOHAN MAGNUSSON
    JOHAN MAGNUSSON  •  Author  •  2022-02-10 14:37:42

    Yeah, this is core, and it also holds a wonderful definition of innovation that is actionable and possible to integrate into activity based management and accounting. Innovation is an activity that involves the exploration of new opportunities, i.e., directly related to high levels of risk and opening options rather than directly realizable benefits. This demarcation from continuous improvements (exploitation) is important so that we find a sound basis for making decisions on financial allocation. Innovation theatre is the direct consequence of a decoupling of the activities from finance...

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