Public Sector Innovation: A Typology and Validation

Existing classifications of public sector innovation have limitations because they are drawn from evidence and theory in private firms, and are informal or internally orientated. In this manuscript we present a taxonomy for defining and measuring innovation in the public sector that comprises two dimensions: "innovation focus" (three public value creation mechanisms of strategy, capacity and operations), and "innovation locus" (inward or outward). This result in six types of innovation: mission, policy, management, partnership, service and citizen. A preliminary validation of the typology is undertaken in a sample of 207 innovation award applicants. In conclusion propositions are presented and research and managerial implications are discussed.