Jonathan Kestenbaum, chief executive, Nesta, closed this year's summit with a keynote speech on innovation and in particular the infrastructure organisations should implement to encourage visions of achievement.
There has been much talk of short-term pain at the summit, Kestenbaum said, but there was also a vision emerging of how public services will have to change through users, community, technology.
His point was how do those, particularly managers and leaders, working in public sector navigate this journey?
He made four observations, the first of which was managers know that strategy is where it begins – set hurdles too high, or the scope to narrow and you are heading for failure. It's not about blockbuster designs (iPod, Viagra). The best ideas come from the widest imaginable funnel, while not advocating anarchy or chaos, he said the process should be fluid, yes of course innovation needs impact, focus, but they should not be too restrictive.
A wider funnel is more likely to generate solutions; a small funnel means ideas will be pushed too quickly, the focus too narrow, managers will miss the wider picture
Next he talked about the innovation process, controls are way too tight. Planning, budgeting, regular review and appraisal – are business processes but wrong for innovation. These milestones are often missed by great innovative companies., he said. What is needed is a flexible budget.
More importantly, he said, is that organisations should not alienate 'mavericks' or trailblazers - don't keep them separated from the team. Communication across departments is vitally important and there is a massive premium on inter-personal skills, coalitions which provide air cover for when things are not going to plan. The skills and attributes of men and women that can embed innovation in an organisation is vital – as is the role of HR departments who must be able to spot potential innovators.
There skills maybe not be what you would find on a traditional CV; maybe the way they dress, act, attitude, for it is these types of people who can bring real change to an organisation as long as they have the freedom within it to express themselves.
So, a positive end note to a day and half of intense debate, and by general consensus one of the best Guardian public services summits. We look forward to next year.
From Bubb's Blog
From Whitehall Watch
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