3 rd Public Sector Innovation Conference “innovation for a responsive public service” 27-28 August 2009

1. 3rd Public Sector Innovation Conference“innovation for a responsive public service”27-28 August 2009 Synopsis of Proceedings

2. 1. Setting the scene • Linda Grootboom • The Public Service is a calling and a profession • Progress made by WCPG in systems innovation & refinement and integration of batho pele at all levels – more needs to be done • ThuliRadebe • We need a solution focused public service • The big questions we should all ask is “what drives some us to be innovative” ? • Critical innovation ingredients are passion & compassion; endurance; persistence • Equally negative ingredients are such issues as lethargy, laziness, etc and these should be discarded • A call for public servants to make use of the soon to be established Multi-media Innovation Centre

3. 2. Minister Padayachie • A personal account of ‘voyage of discovery’ • Process of state renewal and reconfiguration requires of us to be innovative • Economic crisis means there is resource decline for the state • Improvement of the performance of the PS and excellence a key government priority • Two critical challenges • Outcomes performance system • Reasonable and rational planning (over-aching) • A personal account of the case of Early Childhood Development – ‘ECD on wheels’

4. Leadership • Leaders provide support to their fellow workers • They make resources available • We are all leaders, leadership resides at different levels • ‘there is no solid and undisputed answers to key issues and problems in the public sector and we are constantly learning, unlearning, and relearning new knowledge’

5. Leadership • Need for activist and transformative leadership • Putting and sending out simple but powerful messages • Limpopo school case study • Consultation with all stakeholders and partnerships • Doing ‘unimaginable’ things • Development and innovation is multi-dimensional (job creation, food security, skills development, crime prevention, health and education) • Instilling ownership and self-esteem

6. Leadership • Leverage on other people’s talents and acknowledge them • Decentralise power and authority • Common focus – SGB, learners, educators • Replicable innovations

7. Eyes peeled mathematics clinic • Move away from the negative environment, or change it • We can all do it ‘we all are good in mathematics’ • Innovation is about changing conventional methods • ‘shake it up’

8. Use of ICT for innovation • Universal access to services, even in the most remote areas • Western cape case study • Citizen portal in Europe • Use of mobile technology • Lwazi telephony services • Mobile citizen services for queue management • GEMS SMS benefit check-up; and ‘please call me’ services • Nothing is impossible, ‘yes we can’ • Gadgets for visually impaired teachers

9. Making innovation work • Partnerships and leverage resources • Choose one or two ideas that work and focus on them • Men on the side of the road • Motivate and inspire • Recognise power of people • Clear service delivery and citizen satisfaction imperative

10. Punch lines to walk away with • Embark on a voyage of discovery • The analogy of the pumpkin – spread the innovation seeds • Do you have passion, compassion, endurance, and persistence!! • Discard any lethargy & laziness around you • We can all be innovative leaders and ambassadors • Share ideas that work and use personal experience • How do you eat an elephant? Invite partners • Make use of new CPSI multi-media innovation centre