Page 118 - KSN English Final

systemic innovation, where a new or improved way for parts of the public
sector to operate and interact with stakeholders is introduced.
As public officials, we need to be receptive and pro-active in recognising
the types of innovation needed in our organisations, and take active steps
to ensure that innovation takes place to enhance our service to the rakyat.
We must not innovate or introduce something new just because we think
that it is something needed. We must stop being a “supply-driven” public
service but instead, enhance engagement and be “demand-driven” –
provide services that are requested by the rakyat, that fit their needs, and
not our whims and fancies.
The Australian Government has developed a Public Sector Innovation
Toolkit, to assist individual public servants, public sector teams and
agencies who want to increase the extent and effectiveness of their
innovation efforts. I would like to encourage all of us here today to look
into references like these, as a guide for us when we embark on innovation
efforts in our own Ministries and Agencies. And perhaps it is time we have
our own toolkit.
Innovation cannot happen without people to drive it. And as participants
of the ALMP, all of you here are leaders in your own organisations. Simon
Sinek, the author of the book Leaders Eat Last (2014) discussed the idea
Services
Innovation
Services Delivery
Administrative /
Organisational Innovation
Conceptual Innovation
Policy Innovation
Systemic Innovation
SIX TYPES OF
INNOVATION IN
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
108 Humanising The Public Service : A Compilation of Speeches by the Chief Secretary to the Government
that real leaders put themselves last and are willing to sacrifice themselves
for the sake of others. They create an environment where people feel
safe – what he calls the “Circle of Safety”. The principle was inspired by
leadership dynamics in the US Marine Corps, where Sinek observes that
higher ranked officers eat last.
There are three key takeaways from the book that I would like to share
with all of you.
Exceptional organisations have cultures in which the leaders provide cover from
above, and the people on the ground look out for each other. Real leaders minimise
or take away distractions so that the team can perform well;
Leaders of great organisations do not see people as a commodity to be manipulated
for the sake of merely making money. Leaders need to truly embrace the value of
people and not merely see them as a commodity. A leader’s legacy is measured by
the strength of the foundation they leave behind for others to continue to advance
the organisation; and
Leaders of organisations, who rise through the ranks not because they want it, but
because the tribe keeps offering higher status out of gratitude for their willingness
to sacrifice, are the true leaders worthy of our trust and loyalty. Leadership is not a
race. It is not a competition with winners or losers. To lead is to serve.
As leaders in your own organisations, it is critical that you are committed
to helping others and “eat last”. In doing so, you create a Circle of Safety,
which is an environment of trust, respect and co-operation where teams
can thrive to produce desired outcomes for the organisation.
I hope that all of you will remain committed in ensuring the successful
implementation of the national agenda for the betterment of the rakyat
and country. More importantly for this evening, I would like to hear from
you your views on innovation in the public sector, and what is being done
in your organisations. Are you doing enough? Is your organisation doing
the right thing? And are you eating last?
With that, I would like to thank INTAN for organising the ALMP course,
and I look forward to hearing your views and ideas after this.
Speech at the Interaction Session with Participants of the Advanced Leadership & Management Programme.
20 November 2014, National Institute of Public Administration, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
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