Innovation Lifecycle

The innovation lifecycle is an attempt to understand the different stages of the public sector innovation process, the enabling conditions and factors that can support the stages, and how and when different tools and methods can be of use.

There are many different ways of looking at the different stages of the public sector innovation process. From its research and consultation with public servants from member and non-member countries, OPSI has chosen the following six stages as being the most representative of the process and the associated considerations:

Identifying problems: Learning where and how an innovative response is needed
Generating ideas: Finding and filtering ideas to respond to the problems
Developing proposals: Turning ideas into business cases that can be assessed and acted on
Implementing projects: Making the innovation happen
Evaluating projects: Understanding whether the innovative initiative has delivered what was needed
Diffusing lessons: Using what was learnt to inform other projects and to see how the innovation can be applied in other ways.

OPSI is in the process of progressively publishing alpha, and then beta, versions of research reports on each of the stages.

Questions about the Innovation Lifecycle can be directed to [email protected].

Publications

What’s the problem? Learning to identify and understand the need for innovation

The alpha version of “What’s the problem? Learning to identify and understand the need for innovation” looks at what’s involved in understanding the problems (and opportunities) for innovation.

To read more about what we uncovered and to read the case studies, please check out the full report.

What’s possible? Finding and filtering innovative ideas

The alpha version of “What’s possible? Finding and filtering innovative ideas” looks at what’s involved in the generation and sourcing of ideas to respond to problems requiring innovative solutions.

To read more about what we uncovered and to read the case studies, please check out the full report.