08 December 2006
The government's efficiency drive has helped councils become more innovative, according to Audit Commission research.
Addressing a seminar on innovation in the public sector, Peter Wilkinson, the commission's managing director for policy, research and studies, outlined some findings of a study expected to be published next year.
Efficiency was identified as an essential or very important driver of innovation by more than three-quarters of councils surveyed, as was pressure exerted by members, government and the community.
But Wilkinson warned that over-tight management could reduce the scope for councils to come up with new ideas: 'The management of innovation is not fundamentally different from the management of any other change process.'
The December 4 seminar, hosted by the Innovation Forum, also heard from Geoff Mulgan, director of the Young Foundation. Mulgan said that the public sector should not be frightened by the prospect of failure.
'If nothing is failing, you're not really innovating and taking risks,' he said.
PFdec2006
