The Centre for Public Service Innovation

Presented atThe 2nd CPSI Public Sector Innovation

Conference27 November 2008

by Thuli Radebe (CEO)

The Centre for Public Service Innovation

Presented atThe 2nd CPSI Public Sector Innovation

Conference27 November 2008

by Thuli Radebe (CEO)

Presentation outline Presentation outline

The CPSI – Who we are

Mandate

Building a case for innovation

Defining innovation

The CPSI model/approach

Past & current initiatives

Benefits for you

Conclusion - Innovation as a way of life

The CPSI – Who we areThe CPSI – Who we are

The CPSI was established (as a Section 21 entity) by the Minister for the Public Service & Administration in 2001

Recently established as a government component (agency with its Accounting Officer, reporting to Minister for Public Service and Administration)

Vision: Solution-focused developmental public service

Entrench the culture and practice of innovation in the public sector

Provide the Minister with independent, diverse, and forward-looking research findings and advice on service delivery innovation (R&D)

Enhance public service delivery through innovation partnerships and projects (Solution Support & Incubation)

Create an enabling environment that nurtures, supports, encourages, rewards innovation within the Public Sector (Enabling Environment).

MandateMandate

Innovation terrain in South Africa

Innovation terrain in South Africa

National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) - advises the Minister of Science & Technology on the role and contribution of innovation in S & T in promoting and achieving national objectives

National System of Innovation – driven by Science & Technology through NACI, Science Councils and Tertiary institutions

Innovation Hub, SMART XCHANGE (Durban), MERAKA Institute & government

The focus has been mainly on science and technology innovations – recent review of NACI identified a gap that this does not reach or impact on public service delivery

Collaboration with CPSI addresses that gap (CEO on NACI Board)

Key word - COMPLEMENTARITY

Building a case for innovationBuilding a case for innovation

Current economic climate & shrinking budgets (interest rates, oil prices, etc.)

- DG Science & Technology says innovation makes sense only if it has an impact on the economy

– implications for public sector (education, Health, social development)

Complicated needs of our citizens and neighboring countries (porous boarders)

Environmental changes (global warming, climate changes) – coast-line destruction in KZN, Zimbabwe situation, foreigners’ situation – caught by surprise!

Have to be futuristic & pro-active – need to be creative and innovative

After:After:

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Defining innovationDefining innovation

In a public sector context:

“the process of transforming an idea, generally through R&D, into a new or improved product, service, process or approach which serves the mandate of

government and the real needs of society”

ICT & NON-ICT INNOVATIONS

Innovation competenceInnovation competence

DST’s 10-year plan proposes that innovation should be seen as a national competence (Edge Issue 1, Feb 2008)

Our collaboration with PALAMA to develop an NQF-aligned executive innovation management module with a service delivery thrust to develop and nurture this competence within the public sector

The CPSI model/approachThe CPSI model/approach

Fundamental principles

Partnering with Sectors – Sectors play leading role noting that we are not delivering services – hand over

Demand-driven – innovation with a purpose: respond to identified service delivery challenges

ICT an enabler - Exploit the power of technology in our operations, noting that innovation is both ICT and non-ICT

Originality/newness rather than duplication

Knowledge sharing and learning for replication

Model/approach continuedModel/approach continued

Equity & inclusiveness - Leverage support and resources from multiple sources & partners (private, academic, NGO sectors)

Embracing diversity - Forum of experts around a particular problem/challenge (fully representative: private, ICT, academic, NGO sectors)

led by CPSI & relevant sector

to interrogate the challenge

to explore solution & potential service provider/s

to explore funding model for solution

to address IP issues

Past & current initiatives Past & current initiatives Since its establishment the CPSI has initiated numerous

innovations in the Public Service: eGovernment

Batho Pele Gateway Portal now the responsibility of GCIS which presents a single face of government for the citizen.

PITs - Public Internet Terminals – Partnered with SAPO to link Batho Pele Gateway Portal to PITs

General Service Counters (in Thusong Centres) - integrated front-desks at which specially trained officials are able to offer information and services on a range of government services, including those of departments not necessarily present in the Centre. These have become permanent features in Thusong Centres

Mobile technology

Track and Trace - an 24/7 SMS Notification and Querying Facility for the Department of Home Affairs, originally to check your marital status, now extended to track the status of you ID Book or Passport application

Dokoza - a cost effective system for data and transaction exchange for medical services - doctors access test results & used as reminder

Mohwiti Technologies’ Access Health, a locally developed solution to improve patient referrals between local clinics and district hospitals

6. Past and current initiatives (cont.)6. Past and current initiatives (cont.)

Awards: Public Sector Innovation Awards since 2003

Knowledge Platforms and Products

Innovation Conference since 2007

Future Watch e.g. Red Tape to Smart Tape; Human Capital

Case Studies

Innovation Insights

Past & Current initiatives Past & Current initiatives

Past & current initiativesPast & current initiativesINTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Partnership with United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN)

- As Online Regional Centre for SADC we are responsible for uploading information on UNPAN Portal

- Ensure our intellectual memory is coordinated and appropriately communicated & development programmes are appropriate

- Down loaders vs up loaders

All -Africa Public Sector Innovation Awards - Technical Advisors and Secretariat

Feeder to UN, CAPAM & All-Africa Awards (support entries)

Benefits from partnershipBenefits from partnership

Multi-media Innovation Solution Centre (Physical facility)

Provide space away from offices or environments to meet, interrogate challenges and explore solutions

- offices, meeting rooms, teleconference facility, etc.

Provide support – access to integrated team of experts

Space for testing, piloting and trying things out

- Resources (Risk friendly)

Benefits from partnership

Benefits from partnership

Hub of information on innovation (various databases – lexicon; innovators; sector-specific innovations; e-learning module, etc.)

Partnerships and exposure to international best practice

Find you & your innovation – share with the world

Conclusion - Innovation as a way of lifeConclusion - Innovation as a way of life

“If our public institutions are to meet the extraordinary challenges of the 21st century, they must innovate as a way of life” - David Osborne

Surprise yourself and turn a losing situation into a winning one

Dare yourself to challenge the status quo all the time for better effectiveness and efficiency

Be sad when you say ‘I can’t’ or ‘you can’t’ and the citizen walks away empty handed and with no concrete promise – don’t be complacent & wallow in sadness – do something

- Refuse to fail that vulnerable citizen

Thank youThank you