The Centre for Public Service Innovation Presented at The 2nd CPSI Public Sector Innovation Conference 27 November 2008 by Thuli Radebe (CEO)

Presentation outline  The CPSI – Who we are  Mandate  Building a case for innovation  Defining innovation  The CPSI model/approach  Past & current initiatives  Benefits for you  Conclusion - Innovation as a way of life

The CPSI – Who we are  The CPSI was established (as a Section 21 entity) by the Minister for the Public Service & Administration in 2001  Recently established as a government component (agency with its Accounting Officer, reporting to Minister for Public Service and Administration)  Vision: Solution-focused developmental public service

 Entrench the culture and practice of innovation in the public sector  Provide the Minister with independent, diverse, and forward-looking research findings and advice on service delivery innovation (R&D)  Enhance public service delivery through innovation partnerships and projects (Solution Support & Incubation)  Create an enabling environment that nurtures, supports, encourages, rewards innovation within the Public Sector (Enabling Environment). Mandate

Innovation terrain in South Africa  National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) - advises the Minister of Science & Technology on the role and contribution of innovation in S & T in promoting and achieving national objectives  National System of Innovation – driven by Science & Technology through NACI, Science Councils and Tertiary institutions  Innovation Hub, SMART XCHANGE (Durban), MERAKA Institute & government  The focus has been mainly on science and technology innovations – recent review of NACI identified a gap that this does not reach or impact on public service delivery  Collaboration with CPSI addresses that gap (CEO on NACI Board)  Key word - COMPLEMENTARITY

Building a case for innovation  Current economic climate & shrinking budgets (interest rates, oil prices, etc.)  - DG Science & Technology says innovation makes sense only if it has an impact on the economy  – implications for public sector (education, Health, social development)  Complicated needs of our citizens and neighboring countries (porous boarders)  Environmental changes (global warming, climate changes) – coast-line destruction in KZN, Zimbabwe situation, foreigners’ situation – caught by surprise!  Have to be futuristic & pro-active – need to be creative and innovative

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Defining innovation In a public sector context: “the process of transforming an idea, generally through R&D, into a new or improved product, service, process or approach which serves the mandate of government and the real needs of society” ICT & NON-ICT INNOVATIONS

Innovation competence  DST’s 10-year plan proposes that innovation should be seen as a national competence (Edge Issue 1, Feb 2008)  Our collaboration with PALAMA to develop an NQF-aligned executive innovation management module with a service delivery thrust to develop and nurture this competence within the public sector

The CPSI model/approach  Fundamental principles  Partnering with Sectors – Sectors play leading role noting that we are not delivering services – hand over  Demand-driven – innovation with a purpose: respond to identified service delivery challenges  ICT an enabler - Exploit the power of technology in our operations, noting that innovation is both ICT and non-ICT  Originality/newness rather than duplication  Knowledge sharing and learning for replication

Model/approach continued  Equity & inclusiveness - Leverage support and resources from multiple sources & partners (private, academic, NGO sectors)  Embracing diversity - Forum of experts around a particular problem/challenge (fully representative: private, ICT, academic, NGO sectors)  led by CPSI & relevant sector  to interrogate the challenge  to explore solution & potential service provider/s  to explore funding model for solution  to address IP issues

Past & current initiatives  Since its establishment the CPSI has initiated numerous innovations in the Public Service:  eGovernment  Batho Pele Gateway Portal now the responsibility of GCIS which presents a single face of government for the citizen.  PITs - Public Internet Terminals – Partnered with SAPO to link Batho Pele Gateway Portal to PITs  General Service Counters (in Thusong Centres) - integrated front-desks at which specially trained officials are able to offer information and services on a range of government services, including those of departments not necessarily present in the Centre. These have become permanent features in Thusong Centres

 Mobile technology  Track and Trace - an 24/7 SMS Notification and Querying Facility for the Department of Home Affairs, originally to check your marital status, now extended to track the status of you ID Book or Passport application  Dokoza - a cost effective system for data and transaction exchange for medical services - doctors access test results & used as reminder  Mohwiti Technologies’ Access Health, a locally developed solution to improve patient referrals between local clinics and district hospitals 6. Past and current initiatives (cont.)

 Awards: Public Sector Innovation Awards since 2003  Knowledge Platforms and Products  Innovation Conference since 2007  Future Watch e.g. Red Tape to Smart Tape; Human Capital  Case Studies  Innovation Insights Past & Current initiatives

Past & current initiatives INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES  Partnership with United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN) - As Online Regional Centre for SADC we are responsible for uploading information on UNPAN Portal - Ensure our intellectual memory is coordinated and appropriately communicated & development programmes are appropriate - Down loaders vs up loaders  All -Africa Public Sector Innovation Awards - Technical Advisors and Secretariat  Feeder to UN, CAPAM & All-Africa Awards (support entries)

Benefits from partnership Multi-media Innovation Solution Centre (Physical facility)  Provide space away from offices or environments to meet, interrogate challenges and explore solutions - offices, meeting rooms, teleconference facility, etc.  Provide support – access to integrated team of experts  Space for testing, piloting and trying things out - Resources (Risk friendly)

Benefits from partnership  Hub of information on innovation (various databases – lexicon; innovators; sector- specific innovations; e-learning module, etc.)  Partnerships and exposure to international best practice  Find you & your innovation – share with the world

Conclusion - Innovation as a way of life “If our public institutions are to meet the extraordinary challenges of the 21 st century, they must innovate as a way of life” - David Osborne  Surprise yourself and turn a losing situation into a winning one  Dare yourself to challenge the status quo all the time for better effectiveness and efficiency  Be sad when you say ‘I can’t’ or ‘you can’t’ and the citizen walks away empty handed and with no concrete promise – don’t be complacent & wallow in sadness – do something  - Refuse to fail that vulnerable citizen

Thank you