Overview

This book provides a critical exploration and assessment of public sector innovation, challenging conventional assumptions about the ways in which innovation is generated and how it may succeed or fail. Focussing on the local level of public sector, the book systematically reviews the multidisciplinary nature of public sector innovation through an intersectional lens that considers mounting issues of public sector complexity, transparency, and accountability for innovative governance. It presents the key elements of the innovation agenda to advance an entrepreneurship ecosystem, whether for “levelling up” or for evolving new and effective models of collaboration for enterprising places. It argues that innovation arises from relationships of power, that it is characterised by risk and unpredictability, and that ultimately, it may not always be good for public organisations or for the users of public services. This book will be of key interest to scholars, students, and practitioners of local government, public innovation institutions, and more broadly to public policy and management, public administration, public services management, and organisation governance, and strategic management.

Full Product Details

9781032430416

Table of Contents

Reviews

“Johnston and Fenwick have produced an innovative and impressive work on public sector innovation. 'Crafted' would perhaps be a better word than 'produced', in that the work is ambitious and scholarly. It is also well-written, being clear and concise, eschewing jargon, even when addressing complex issues. The book places innovation into its proper context; theory, history, dynamics, institutions and barriers to innovation. It also explores the contemporary understanding of these things in terms of equality, inclusion, sustainability and possible harms as a result of innovation, since in drawing on the work of Hartley, the authors point out in order to innovate organisations must change something and not all change is always good. Fenwick and Johnston draw on a range of theories and compare and contrast different levels of public sector innovation from a wide range of countries; an impressive piece of work of relevance to a range of disciplines.” Andrew Massey, Professor Emeritus of Government, King’s College, London, UK

“Johnston and Fenwick have produced an innovative and impressive work on public sector innovation. “Crafted” would perhaps be a better word than “produced”, in that the work is ambitious and scholarly. It is also well written, being clear and concise, eschewing jargon, even when addressing complex issues. The book places innovation into its proper context; theory, history, dynamics, institutions, and barriers to innovation. It also explores the contemporary understanding of these things in terms of equality, inclusion, sustainability, and possible harms as a result of innovation since in drawing on the work of Hartley, the authors point out in order to innovate, organisations must change something and not all change is always good. Johnston and Fenwick draw on a range of theories and compare and contrast different levels of public sector innovation from a wide range of countries; an impressive piece of work of relevance to a range of disciplines.” Andrew Massey, Professor Emeritus of Government, King’s College, London, UK

Author Information

Lorraine Johnston is an associate professor at the Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, UK. John Fenwick is an emeritus professor at the Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, UK.

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