Governing the City State - Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate ...

• better information sharing to support joined-up services;• [a] shift from risk averse culture and processes to one which supports innovation; [and]• drive efficiency through more shared services, including ICT. 366In practice, this involves genuinely engaging in participatory incubation, sharing goodpractice and applying a whole of government performance framework that allows innovationto flourish. Anchoring Scotland’s reform strategy is five key program deliverables – one ofwhich is ‘Best Value’. Best Value principles underpin the operation of public serviceorganisations and are a central, enduring foundation for continuous improvement across thepublic sector:Best Value balances quality and cost considerations in improving the performance of publicservice organisations. The duty of Best Value is to make arrangements to secure continuousimprovement in performance (while maintaining an appropriate balance between quality andcost) and in doing so to have regard to economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equal opportunitiesrequirements and to the achievement of sustainable development. Best Value places theemphasis on the customer, not just the bottom line. 367In 2008, the Canadian Government created an Employee Innovation Program 368 as a two yearpilot initiative, to identify creative and practical ideas that lead to tangible Governmentsavings and improved services to Canadians. The goal of the Employee Innovation Programis to encourage government employees to identify savings and more efficient ways, withintheir departments, to deliver services to Canadians. The program provides cash incentives foremployees to identify innovative ideas – it focuses on creative and practical ideas that lead totangible savings for Canadian taxpayers as well as increased efficiencies within Government.The quantum of the incentive is linked directly to the savings measured in the first year ofimplementation (10% of the savings measured in the first year of implementation, up to amaximum of $10,000). The proposals selected for incubation are evaluated on practicality,innovation and creativity. Significant improvements to a government program or an internalservice must be noted, and tangible benefits must be observed in order to receive the award.The Danish have utilised an incubation concept called ‘ MindLab’, 369 a cross-ministerialinnovation unit which involves citizens and businesses in creating new solutions for society.MindLab provides a physical space – a neutral zone for inspiring creativity, innovation andcollaboration, working with public servants in three parent ministries: the Ministry ofEconomic and Business Affairs, the Ministry of Taxation and the Ministry of Employment.These three ministries cover broad policy areas that affect the daily lives of virtually allDanes. Entrepreneurship, climate change, digital self-service, citizen’s rights, employmentservices and workplace safety are some of the areas they address. MindLab is instrumental inhelping the ministry’s key decision-makers and employees view their efforts from the366 Scottish Government (2007) p.12.367 See http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/PublicServiceReform/14838368 See http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/faq/eip-pie-eng.asp#q1369 See http://www.mind-lab.dk/en/omCapability, Capacity and Effectiveness: 276