Synopsis of Proceedings

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

Thuli Radebe◦ 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

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’

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’

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

Leverage on other people’s talents and acknowledge them

Decentralise power and authority Common focus – SGB, learners, educators Replicable innovations

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’

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

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

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