Workplace Innovation in Canada’s Public Service: How Collaborative Approaches, Dynamic Workspaces, and Enabling Technology Can Deliver Greater Value to Canadians

Governments are facing mounting pressure to improve service delivery and accountability to citizens under increasing fiscal restraints and an aging workforce. To thrive in this complex environment, public sector organizations must focus on driving efficiencies and delivering value. The Public Policy Forum believes that it is essential to build and foster a culture of innovation in the workplace in order to achieve these results.

Exploring, applying, and supporting public service workplace innovation is fundamental to realizing substantial benefits, including the ability to:

• Drive better outcomes for Canadians;
• Attract, inspire, and retain employees; and,
• Deliver greater value for money.

In developing this report, the Forum interviewed over 100 leaders from across the federal public service and from the private sector. We sought their input on the importance of workplace innovation, their vision for the future, changes that they believe should occur in the public service, and barriers and challenges.

Based on our findings, the recommendations in this paper are action-oriented, and grounded in the experience of federal public servants and executives in other organizations that are successfully creating better, more effective work places.