CHANGING THE CULTURAL DNA ?
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Another cultural factor is transient leadership . The constant moving of senior executives creates a leadership with short term goals and small windows in which to create change .
Governments today , due to limited resources , have a strong focus on efficiency innovations . However , they need to have a much greater portion of sustaining innovation – that idea of doing the things we do but in different ways . We are in desperate need for more radical innovations – doing new things .
Efficiency innovation ultimately will have minimal effect . If efficiency is all that you are focusing on , you are in a downward spiral and sooner or later , you will reach a point where you no longer have the resources to deliver on your responsibilities . Change requires investment .
In your experience with the government , is this counter to the general mindset ?
ML : Yes , there a lot of factors within the government working at the operational level , counter to what the stated values are . This is a huge cultural problem within the government . There is lots of rhetoric around the need for change , and yet the DNA of management and the structures of the organization can be working against what we need for the future .
Another cultural factor is transient leadership . The constant moving of senior executives creates a leadership with short term goals and small windows in which to create change . It also affects continuity as leaders rarely get recognition for implementing someone else ’ s ideas . Transformation takes time and churn of leadership that creates constantly shifting priorities , unrealistic time frames and approaches which undermine continuity are significant barriers to change .
How can Business Model Innovation serve as a blueprint for government innovation ?
ML : One of the most important aspects of business model thinking is moving away from defining your business by what you do , which often manifests as an obsession with process . Instead , focus on the value that you create for your customers or your clients . It really means making the job that your customer has to do , or the problem that they have to solve , the key reference point for what your organization does .
So how does a business model approach help to drive out the value proposition ?
ML : It is fundamental to business model thinking to understand the nature of the customer and the value proposition . This is the core relationship you have to get right to be successful .
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