Innovation Audit for the Public Sector

Choose all or part of your organisation to assess for innovativeness. Tick the column that most accurately describes your organisation. Follow the instructions to find the percentage of your innovative potential being achieved by your organisation.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Managers routinely get out of their office to talk to staff - a process often termed MBWA for ’management by walking around’.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Managers have a meaningful conversation with each of their staff members at least once a week

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Managers always find ways to resource good people to progress good ideas

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Our organisation publicly celebrates the learning and effort that goes into innovations even when they fail

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Responsibility, authority and resources for projects is passed to staff - the manager’s input is to be a buffer with the organisation, a good sounding board, an enthusiast, and to check on progress.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Managers reflect back to staff how their qualities will lead to positive change

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

The people who are most knowledgeable about the task or challenge make most of the resource allocation decisions.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Our organisation has an internal seed venture capital fund, discretionary fund or other process that can be used to resource staff to progress innovative ideas.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Innovation Experience

At least 20% of staff have had a significant impact on developing or adopting an innovation (new to the world, country, sector or organisation) in the last two years.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Our organisation has achieved more innovations than other similar organisations in the last two years.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Our staff say they are usually learning new things in our organisation

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Creativity and Idea Generation

Our staff can usually suggest many ways to solve problems

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

We prefer to employ people who expand our range of experiences and perspectives.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

We carefully separate the process of generating ideas and being creative from making decisions and judgements.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Goals, Measures and Strategy

Our organisation has a clear strategic vision that staff know and share

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Most staff have fewer than six measures that they use to assess the performance of the organisation and their role in it.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Strategic measures are shared often with all staff to assess progress towards the strategic vision.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

The strategic measures very closely reflect the true purpose of the organisation.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

We are more interested in achieving outcomes than outputs

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

New Project Development

We have many staff who are fully committed to making their projects happen.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

We have a clear process for developing new ideas.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Once a project has been decided on, it develops rapidly.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

We are good at pulling together all of the skills and influencers from both within and without our organisation to develop projects.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Staff who are driving innovative projects or processes usually get the full support of senior managers at critical stages in the project.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Our staff turnover rate is less than the industry norm.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Most HR matters are handled at the operational level.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Our staff are motivated by the vision of the organisation.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Most staff meet daily in an informal space such as a tearoom.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

There are rich personal networks that cross department boundaries within our organisation

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

There are formal 2-way communication pathways for management to inform staff and staff to inform management at least once a month.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

There is sufficient slack time for people to take time to think and explore ideas.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Our managers are good at showing their appreciation to staff for their efforts, small triumphs and major accomplishments.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Decisions are made without undue delay.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Front line staff often make decisions that in small ways influence the strategic direction of the organisation.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

The organisation’s formal controls and measures are only for those things that significantly affect the organisation achieving its vision.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Staff departments (such as HR, legal, PR, administrative services, advisory, finance, information systems and audit) act as assistants to, not overseers of, line departments (who are responsible for achieving the major goals of the organisation).

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Current or recent practitioners mainly develop our policy.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

We assure accountability mainly through close working relationships with management and staff, rather than relying on paper based measures.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

People trust the decisions made by our organisation because of our reputation for integrity.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Staff are guided by the values of the organisation in their daily work.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Organisation Culture

Our organisation’s culture is a major advantage in attracting and retaining good staff.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Our organisation’s culture encourages all staff to constantly seek and test better ways of doing things.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

It is easy to challenge the way things are normally done in our organisation

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

We treat our colleagues with respect, admiration and cooperation.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

People laugh and smile a lot in our organisation.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

There is almost no backbiting in our organisation.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

We have very few rules that require compliance.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

It is more important to make an impact as opportunities arise than to be consistent.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Our staff focus is on the users of our services rather than internally.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue

Challenging Environment

We face a challenging environment that demands innovative solutions.

Very true

Fairly true

Untrue