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Innovation and the Public Service: Facilitating Inclusive Industrial and Social Development

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  • Plantinga, Paul

Abstract

A growing number of public servants are involved in activities aimed at supporting industrial and social innovation in their regions, whether by firms, academia, civil society or community-based organisations. But what capabilities and legitimacy do government officials and their agencies have to engage meaningfully with these innovation actors? Much of the current research highlights significant friction between the open, agile behaviour needed to support innovation and the inertia of established bureaucratic procedures and attitudes. A common response is that the public sector needs to be ‘de-bureaucratised’. Through a case study of South Africa, this chapter seeks to provide a more nuanced picture of the capacities and routines that are important for enabling innovation. This is done by highlighting (1) the significant diversity of public organisations and officials influencing industrial and social innovation; (2) the reasons why certain procedures and practices are in place; and (3) potential adjustments through which innovation support can be improved, including how it can better serve inclusive development goals. This analysis is an initial attempt to profile the distinctive characteristics of innovation enablers in the public sector, and provides a framework for identifying routines through which innovation and inclusive development outcomes may be achieved.

Suggested Citation

  • Plantinga, Paul, 2021. "Innovation and the Public Service: Facilitating Inclusive Industrial and Social Development," SocArXiv qcdjg_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:qcdjg_v1
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/qcdjg_v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Edward Lorenz & Erika Kraemer-Mbula, & Lotta Takala-Greenish & Oluseye Jegede & Turkur Garba & Musambya Mutambala, 2019. "Are African micro- and small enterprises misunderstood? Unpacking the relationship between work organisation, capability development and innovation," Post-Print hal-02396448, HAL.
    2. Edward Lorenz & Erika Kraemer-Mbula, & Lotta Takala-Greenish & Oluseye Jegede & Tukur Garba & Musambya Mutambala & Timothy Esemu, 2019. "Are African micro and small enterprises misunderstood? Unpacking the relationship between work organisation, capability development and innovation," Post-Print hal-01940597, HAL.
    3. Erika Kraemer-Mbula & Edward Lorenz & Lotta Takala-Greenish & Oluseye Oladayo Jegede & Tukur Garba & Musambya Mutambala & Timothy Esemu, 2019. "Are African micro- and small enterprises misunderstood? Unpacking the relationship between work organisation, capability development and innovation," International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(1), pages 1-30.
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