Enabling Digital Innovation in the Public Sector

Authors

Rachel Jiang, UNSWFollow
Alan Thorogood, UNSWFollow
George Joukhadar, UNSWFollow
Kate Harrington, Government of NSWFollow

Paper Number

1644

Abstract

Although public sector digital innovation is widespread, research into how the public sector enables digital innovation in practice could be stronger. Further, the public sector’s values and priorities differ from those of the private sector, which confounds simple comparisons and requires adapting digital ways of working. This research drew on the public management literature and an exploratory and interpretive field study of a leading digital government. Five challenges to digital innovation emerged: slow mobilisation, premature solutioning, service silos, digital maturity heterogeneity, and leadership that could be more familiar with digital ways of working. Initiatives that enable digital innovation include structural service integration, ecosystem engagement, technology modernisation, customer-centric strategies and processes, and agility in management. However, the digital capability gaps and core rigidities interact with each other, which requires a comprehensive approach to capture the significant benefits for citizens.

Comments

Paper Number 1644

Recommended Citation

Jiang, Rachel; Thorogood, Alan; Joukhadar, George; and Harrington, Kate, "Enabling Digital Innovation in the Public Sector" (2022). PACIS 2022 Proceedings. 196.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2022/196