Leading public sector innovation: Co-creating for a Better Society

by Christian Bason

In a time of unprecedented turbulence, how can public sector organisations increase their ability to find innovative solutions to society's problems? Leading Public Sector Innovation shows how government agencies can use co-creation to overcome barriers and deliver more value, at lower cost, to citizens and business. Through inspiring global case studies and practical examples, the book addresses the key triggers of public sector innovation. It shares new tools for citizen involvement through design thinking and ethnographic research, and pinpoints the leadership roles needed to drive innovation at all levels of government. Leading Public Sector Innovation is essential reading for public managers and staff, social innovators, business partners, researchers, consultants and others with a stake in the public sector of tomorrow.

Genres: Design

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2010

Reviews

[Rosie]

I'm writing my Master's thesis on the political economy of public-private innovation partnerships in Denmark. Elsewhere, such partnerships have been given different terms, like public-private technology collaboration, multi-sector partnerships etc., but broadly the concept describes engagement between a government sector actor and a business sector actor that has the explicit goal of developing a specific technology for use in public services delivery or public sector management. Public-private innovation partnership policies have also been developed by governments in Europe to foster "demand" in particular sectors (e.g. green technologies). Literature on the emergence of public-private innovation partnerships in Europe is scarce, though they underpin developments that do receive a lot of attention, like personal data privacy and ownership, venture capital start-up financing, and wearable health technologies.

I was interested in this book for a few reasons. Firstly, because Christian Bason has over the course of the past two decades influenced the role of government in Danish innovation policies and its relationship to the private sector perhaps more than any other individual, through roles in both private sector consulting and public sector management. First published in 2010, the book nicely contextualizes historical developments in both industrial and 'new public management' policy in Denmark. Secondly, because I had organized an interview with Christian as part of my thesis project research, and given his time constraints, I didn't want to ask anything I could just learn from the book.

From the perspective of my research, the book has been very useful as a historical document, and I would recommend it to those who want to understand what is currently considered to be the dominant thinking around public sector innovation and what role the private sector plays within it across many Western capitalist democracies.

[Linh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 pages in and I already know this book deserves 5 stars. Even if you’re not into design thinking and its application in the public sector, Bason has written such an easy-to-understand yet so captivating book with real life examples. One of my favs already.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well...not exactly as gripping as a Rebus tale by Ian Rankin but an absolute must read if you are a public servant and interested in innovation!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read on innovation in the public sector. Highly recommended!

[Singalongalong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good background on public sector innov dynamics in mostly europe/west.. helpful for thinking abt origins of many of the norms/parameters of fhis field

[Ahmed Nada · Rating 2 out of 5]

The innovation not only in private business,the book discussed how the public sector or the government depend on the innovation to rebuild and develop their system .its very specific and valuable book

[Usama Albastaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely explained and easy to read