Local government : tales of creativity and innovation

Mellor, R

Local government : tales of creativity and innovation

Mellor, R

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2009

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Mellor, R
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-20T05:40:05Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-20T05:40:05Z
dc.date.issued	2009
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/24157
dc.description	University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Business.	en_US
dc.description.abstract	Local government in Australia (as in many countries) has been urged to be more 'creative and innovative', but with little clear definition of what the two terms mean. In the context of the 'New Public Management' (NPM) reforms of local government in recent years, local Councils have often turned to the private sector models of 'entrepreneurialism' and 'innovation' for guidance, but in a number of cases this has not been satisfactory nor overly successful. There has been little work on a model of public sector innovation that integrates the principles of good local governance and produces real public value and a tangible result in the local community. This thesis contributes to our knowledge of creativity and innovation at work and how they are understood in local Councils in particular. It also contributes towards a model of 'local governance innovation'. The research uses an 'Expert Panel' to discuss and develop criteria for selecting 'innovative' local Councils. The thesis then examines three case study Councils in NSW, Australia, utilising an 'ethnonarrative' methodology that borrows from the practices of ethnography, autoethnography, and uses narrative as an exploratory tool and a style for describing results. Observations are made, artefacts are examined, key staff are interviewed and their stories of creativity and innovation are collected and analysed. Scott's (2001) Professional Capabilities Framework is used to guide questions about the professional capabilities being used by staff to be creative and generate innovation in the Councils. The research methodology also uses the process of 'story-building' between the researcher and the participants, and this is discussed. This thesis shows that there are professional staff working in NSW Councils, who are committed to generating innovation for the benefit of their communities. Their understanding of creativity and innovation are shared through their stories and these shape their meanings. The thesis finds, that whilst precise definitions of the terms 'creativity' and 'innovation' are not evident, there is a generally understood meaning of the concepts – at that it is one that produces community benefit. There is an understanding of 'appropriate risk' and organisational cultures that support "learning from mistakes". The key capabilities used for implementing 'innovation' are those that involve communication', and 'story-building'. Fundamentally, these people understand and pursue innovation not only to promote efficiency and effectiveness but also as part of what they believe is 'good local governance'.	en_US
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/24157/2/02Whole.pdf
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/ppc
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	Local government.	en
dc.subject	Innovation.	en
dc.subject	Creativity.	en
dc.subject	Public sector reform.	en
dc.subject	New South Wales.	en
dc.title	Local government : tales of creativity and innovation	en_US
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access

Abstract:

Local government in Australia (as in many countries) has been urged to be more 'creative and innovative', but with little clear definition of what the two terms mean. In the context of the 'New Public Management' (NPM) reforms of local government in recent years, local Councils have often turned to the private sector models of 'entrepreneurialism' and 'innovation' for guidance, but in a number of cases this has not been satisfactory nor overly successful. There has been little work on a model of public sector innovation that integrates the principles of good local governance and produces real public value and a tangible result in the local community. This thesis contributes to our knowledge of creativity and innovation at work and how they are understood in local Councils in particular. It also contributes towards a model of 'local governance innovation'. The research uses an 'Expert Panel' to discuss and develop criteria for selecting 'innovative' local Councils. The thesis then examines three case study Councils in NSW, Australia, utilising an 'ethnonarrative' methodology that borrows from the practices of ethnography, autoethnography, and uses narrative as an exploratory tool and a style for describing results. Observations are made, artefacts are examined, key staff are interviewed and their stories of creativity and innovation are collected and analysed. Scott's (2001) Professional Capabilities Framework is used to guide questions about the professional capabilities being used by staff to be creative and generate innovation in the Councils. The research methodology also uses the process of 'story-building' between the researcher and the participants, and this is discussed. This thesis shows that there are professional staff working in NSW Councils, who are committed to generating innovation for the benefit of their communities. Their understanding of creativity and innovation are shared through their stories and these shape their meanings. The thesis finds, that whilst precise definitions of the terms 'creativity' and 'innovation' are not evident, there is a generally understood meaning of the concepts – at that it is one that produces community benefit. There is an understanding of 'appropriate risk' and organisational cultures that support "learning from mistakes". The key capabilities used for implementing 'innovation' are those that involve communication', and 'story-building'. Fundamentally, these people understand and pursue innovation not only to promote efficiency and effectiveness but also as part of what they believe is 'good local governance'.

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