Innovation
What is it?
All organisations need to change to make progress. Repeating bad practice is wasteful and repeating good practice will only get you so far. Innovation is about going beyond existing practice to achieve real benefit.
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result" Albert Einstein
Innovation is not just something that is of importance to the private sector. Innovation is just as important to the public sector as well and is increasingly being seen as the way to increase performance and to meet the challenges that face society. The importance of innovation to the public sector is underlined by the publication in 2008 of the government White Paper "Innovation Nation".
How do we do it?
At CPI, we define innovation as adopting new approaches that outperform previous practice - it is not about seeking novelty, or changing for change's sake. Innovation does not have to be costly or highly risky but must lead to better performance.
From our extensive experience of working in public sector innovation, CPI understand that innovation happens when people are allowed and are encouraged to try out ideas and are supported by their managers. The people best placed to try out new ideas are often those who are closest to the problem that needs to be solved.
"Good management is not about finding solutions to problems because the solutions are often very, very simple. Good management is about recognising that there is a problem and enabling and encouraging the right people to do something about it." Gerry Robinson - Can Gerry Robinson Fix the NHS?
CPI's work enables public sector organisations to develop a culture which enables and support innovation - that frees up the talents of staff to devise new solutions to old problems, and which create the conditions within the organisation to enable new ideas to flourish. We work with senior management teams to help them instigate organisational change, as well as providing support and advice to the innovators within the organisation.
Our work includes:
Hertfordshire Police - Herts and Minds Campaign
CPI worked with Hertfordshire Police force to develop an internal innovation process to collect good ideas from across the Force, and then enable these ideas to be piloted and put into practice. CPI supported the implementation of the innovation scheme which is now in its second year of operation.
Care Services Improvement Partnership - Severe Mental Illness Learning and Evaluation Programme
With the Care Services Improvement Partnership South East, CPI developed a programme that explored improving the physical health and wellbeing of clients with severe and enduring mental illness. CPI worked with innovators across the South East area from the public, voluntary and private sectors to assist them in rolling out new ways of working with this vulnerable client group.
More information about our work with CSIP can be found here.
Office of the Regional Offender Manager for London - Faith Grants Programme
With the Office of the Regional Offender Manager for London, CPI explored the role of London's faith sector in rehabilitating and resettling ex-offenders back into the community.
Our work with the London Resettlement Board was featured in the London Reducing Re-offending Action Plan. Read more here.
Brighton Boozebusters
We worked with Brighton CDRP to help them engage the community in dealing with the negative side of alcohol consumption in the town. The work took place over Christmas season and the community response was massive. Some of the projects that emerged continue as long term community solutions in Brighton.
Read about our work in Brighton here.
Read about one of the projects "Safe Space" here.
So what?
If you want to discuss how innovation could work in your organisation, call Mark Napier on 020 7922 7823 or email him on mark.napier@publicinnovation.org.uk
