This research sought to gain a deeper understanding of innovation in the Western Australian State Public Sector. It achieves this by exploring the perceptions of Leaders, Experts and lnfluencers regarding innovation, enablers and barriers to innovation, and examples of innovation in the sector. In this study, 'Leaders' were employees in the State Public Sector selected from the top two tiers of the Senior Executive Service position. 'Experts and lnfluencers' were individuals who were recognised as having specialized knowledge, skills and / or success regarding innovation and / or recognised as having the power to affect or influence innovation in the Western Australian Public Sector. In addition, the research also aimed to determine ways in which innovation can be enhanced in the sector. The context of this study is the Western Australia State Public Sector (WASPS) which includes departments, trade concerns, instrumentalities, agencies and state bodies run by the WA State Government. This study is significant because there is little exploration and description of the perception of innovation in the Public Sector of Australia and a lack of common understanding of innovation in the WASPS. This study enables a much greater understanding of the depth, extent and success of innovation in this sector. Innovation is vital for a public sector needing to respond to Western Australia's growth and prosperity. The description of innovation and strategies for enhancing innovation will assist in the further development of a responsive sector. / This study adopts a qualitative methodology to explore the meaning given by Leaders, Experts and lnfluencers and their perceptions of innovation in the public sector. The qualitative paradigm provides rich meaning to the research questions for the study which are: I . What are the perceptions of innovation in the Western Australian State Public Sector amongst Leaders? 2. What are the perceptions of innovation in the Western Australian State Public Sector amongst Experts and lnfluencers? 3. What are the barriers and enablers to innovation in the Western Australian State Public Sector 4. How can innovation in the Western Australian State Public Sector be enhanced? A phenomenological approach is adopted for the study which allows the structure and essence of the phenomena of innovation within the public sector to be explored. Data was collected using semi structured, in-depth interviews and data analysis using a phenomenological approach was conducted. This ensured that the experience and meaning of the phenomena of innovation is described and explained as faithfully as possible. The key findings of the study indicate that while there are pockets of innovation within the WASPS there is an overall need to enhance the capacity for innovation. / An 'emergent model' is proposed as a framework that can provide an enhanced capacity for innovation in the WASPS. This is achieved by addressing the cultural, structural and human resource barriers that exist and by simultaneously enhancing the enablers that were identified in this study. The 'emergent model' takes a strategic view with special consideration for the context for innovation within the WASPS. Inherent in this model is the need for a clear and shared definition of innovation; the creation of ideal conditions for innovation; and the development of an innovation action plan. Superimposed on this model is the need for greater capacity for, and commitment to, meaningful public consultation. In addition the study highlighted a need for strong and effective leadership throughout the Western Australia State Public Sector to enhance innovation. In making these conclusions it is recognised that this study is specific to the state public sector of Western Australia. This study opens the possibility of more extensive research within the public sector, specific to innovation. In particular, there is significant scope to explore the relationship between political and public sector leadership and the effect of this relationship on innovation. In addition, further exploration of successful innovation in the sector could better inform the type of agency in which innovation is successful and an analysis of the leadership factors that influence successful innovation. Further research regarding the ability of leaders to create an environment to enhance innovation within the sector, recruitment practices of the WASPS, and of resource allocation and its effect on innovation capacity is advocated in this study.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:53:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BUENO_Gabriel_2014.pdf: 1194261 bytes, checksum: 391d3ca8e2a6b5600c9a4b7927b352fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-11 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The Federal Law 11.947 of 2009 provides that states and municipalities, to perform actions of the National School Feeding Programme (PNAE), must spend at least 30% of funds received from the National Fund for the Development of Education (ENDF) to purchase products from family farms. Despite presenting innovative features, such regulation has many challenges. Highlights the need for greater contact and cooperation between government managers and farmers during the PNAE implementation process. The literature that addresses the concept of innovation in the public sector also indicates the importance of inclusion of citizens/users in the design and provision of public actions. Based on these, this research aimed to identify innovative aspects in the PNAE implementation process in Sorocaba-SP. Also aimed to raise inducing aspects and barriers to innovation in this process. Collection and analysis of data, we used a qualitative approach and the method of single case study with multiple units of analysis and multiple sources of data collection. Among the main results, it was found that the participation of the actors involved in PNAE presented two different times as to the pricing of foodstuffs, impacting the relationship between the municipal government and the cooperatives of farmers. In general, there is no communication between the two main public sectors involved in the implementation of PNAE. By the family organizations, the formation of a central cooperative allowed greater representation of individual cooperatives. As inducing factors for the adoption of innovative practices, we highlight the own federal regulation - which gave rise to the need for inclusion of cooperatives in school food - and social pressure held in the spaces created through discussion forums and public hearings. Among the main barriers, were identified the legacy of past practices resulting from the outsourcing process, the lack of social control and lack of participation by the Council of School Feeding (CAE), besides the lack of public infrastructure geared specifically to meet agricultural and supply issues in the municipality. / A Lei Federal 11.947, de 2009, estabelece que estados e municípios, ao executarem ações do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE), devem gastar no mínimo 30% dos recursos recebidos do Fundo Nacional para o Desenvolvimento da Educação (FNDE) na compra de produtos originários da agricultura familiar. Apesar de apresentar características inovadoras, tal regulamentação apresenta inúmeros desafios. Destaca-se a necessidade de maior aproximação e cooperação entre os gestores públicos e agricultores familiares durante o processo de implementação do PNAE. A literatura que aborda o conceito de inovação no setor público também indica a importância da inclusão dos cidadãos/usuários no processo de formulação e provisão das ações públicas. Frente ao exposto, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo identificar aspectos inovadores no processo de implementação do PNAE no município de Sorocaba-SP. Objetivou-se também levantar os aspectos indutores e barreiras para inovação neste processo. Para coleta e análise dos dados, utilizou-se a abordagem qualitativa e o método do estudo de caso único integrado, com diversas unidades de análise e múltiplas fontes de coleta. Entre os principais resultados, verificou-se que a participação dos atores envolvidos no PNAE apresentou dois momentos distintos quanto ao processo de definição dos preços dos gêneros alimentícios, impactando expressivamente a relação entre a administração pública municipal e as cooperativas de agricultores familiares. De maneira geral, não existe comunicação/articulação efetiva entre os dois principais setores públicos envolvidos na implementação do PNAE no município. Por parte das organizações familiares, a formação de uma cooperativa central permitiu maior representatividade das cooperativas singulares. Como fatores indutores para a adoção de práticas inovadoras, cabe destacar a própria regulamentação federal - que fez emergir a necessidade de inclusão das cooperativas na alimentação escolar - e a pressão social realizada nos espaços de discussão criados através de fóruns e audiências públicas. Dentre as principais barreiras, foram identificadas a herança de práticas anteriores advindas do processo de terceirização, o desconhecimento do controle social e ausência de participação através do Conselho de Alimentação Escolar (CAE), além da falta de estrutura pública voltada especificamente para atender questões agrícolas e de abastecimento no município.