This article gives an overview of a study into innovation in welfare
services, conducted in four Swedish municipalities. Data collection was made
from official documents and from interviews.
The result indicates that there were difficulties in implementing decided
innovation policies. Major hindrances were lack of structures and support,
understanding of the innovation concept, lacking communication but also that
other priorities were made. The organizations as such did not prepare
themselves for the implementation of the policies.
The study gives insight into the difficulties of implementing innovation in
municipal welfare services. It improves our understanding of innovation
management and innovation processes in the municipalities studied. The study
also contributes to the discussion of how a concept such as innovation needs to
be adapted to the welfare services of the public sector if it should be useful. It
also suggested that further concept development, as well as empirical studies is
needed.
ISPIM, Manchester, UK, 2015.
Policies; local government; municipalities; employee-driven innovation: management; leadership, public sector innovation
The XXVI ISPIM Conference – Shaping the Frontiers of Innovation Management, Budapest, Hungary on 14-17 June 2015