This presentation outlines the latest findings from UK research on how local government can achieve more major innovations, more quickly. It brings together learning from 4 separate studies, with chief executives, frontline employees, leading local politicians, and middle managers. It examines what all these groups agreed about, where they differed, as well as highlighting issues given little attention. This is Power Point version.

1. Accelerating
Innovation in Local
Government:
Latest Findings
Joan Munro
October 2014
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

2. Innovation =
New + Relevant
New
ways of saving
money
New ways
of
delivering
New
organisational
arrangements
New ways of
improving
©Accelerating Innovation in Ldocael mocracy
Government Research Project

3. A simplified innovation process
Investigate
issues to fully
understand
problems &
opportunities
Generate &
consider many
potential creative
solutions
Select,
prototype,
test &
develop most
promising
potential
solutions
Execute
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project
Innovation is not just
about having bright
ideas!

4. How can local government leaders achieve
more major innovations, more quickly?
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

5. Chief Executives’
Perspectives
Leading
Councillors’
Perspectives
What’s shared?
What’s different?
What’s missing?
Middle
Managers’
Perspectives
Frontline
Employees’
Perspectives
Research undertaken
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

6. FIVE KEY
ACTIONS
UNIVERSALLY
AGREED
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

7. Agreeing a
clear
strategic
direction &
innovation
priorities
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

8. Leading for
innovation
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

9. Fostering an organisational culture
that encourages innovation
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

10. Devoting sufficient time & resources to
priority innovations
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project
FutureGov photo

11. Building effective cross-council
working on major innovations
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

12. DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES
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Government Research Project

13. Turning rhetoric
into reality
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project
Many middle managers &
frontline employees said
that their leaders needed to
put the 5 key actions into
practice more effectively

14. Communicating,
face to face
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project
Many middle managers &
frontline employees said it
was vital that leaders
communicate in person

15. Involving &
listening to
managers &
employees
Many middle managers & employees
felt that consultations on proposed
innovations were tokenistic & too late
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

16. Ensuring corporate services
help to deliver innovations
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project
In some councils, middle
managers felt that their
corporate services block
innovation

17. Providing
technology
expertise
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project
In some councils, middle
managers felt that the
necessary digital
expertise was not
available

18. Using
effective,
disciplined,
delivery
mechanisms
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project
Many chief executives
felt programme &
project management
helped to ensure
delivery

19. Persisting until
innovations
are achieved ©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project
Many middle managers &
employees felt that their
leaders did not maintain their
interest for long enough

20. Areas needing attention?
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

21. Involving residents more?
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

22. Looking more widely for inspiration?
Look abroad, as well as other sectors
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

23. Focusing more on partnerships &
on commissioning for innovation?
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

24. Developing
more
innovation
expertise?
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

25. THE LOCAL COUNCILS’
INNOVATION FRAMEWORK
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project
Distils the
findings from
the research
Can be used by leaders
individually or in groups to
review what they might
do to achieve more major
innovations

26. Citizen &
Service user
Focus
Culture
promotes
innovation
Effective
delivery
mechanisms
for innovation
Strategic
approach to
innovation
Cross
boundary
innovations
Leaders &
managers
lead for
innovation
Clear
political
vision &
priorities
Employees
skilled &
motivated for
innovation
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project

27. Resources & contact details
Local Councils’ Innovation Framework:
http://tinyurl.com/LGIF2014
Framework Self-Assessment tool:
http://tinyurl.com/LGISA2014
Summary of latest findings:
http://tinyurl.com/LGILF2014
Presentations on innovation:
http://www.slideshare.net/joanmunro
joan.munro@btopenworld.com
Tel: 0779 2952 498
@JoanMICL
©Accelerating Innovation in Local
Government Research Project