Public Sector Innovation in a Struggling Economy

摘要

Economic crises in the public sector have prompted severe reductions in staff and staff hours. Some reductions are gradual, such as hiring freezes that blocked replacement of retiring workers. Other reductions include strategic hiring of replacement workers at lower pay scales and with less comprehensive benefits. In the past two years, more abrupt reductions include sweeping layoffs, unpaid furlough days, and closing agencies for one or more days each month. Most state and local governments across the United States are experiencing a combination of these human resource reductions and more appear likely in the future. A number of state and local governments propose extreme wage, benefit, and staff reductions that are viewed by workers as cruel or divisive. Such reductions may achieve a goal of less spending in the short term. However, the reduction in timely customer service could not occur at a worse time as citizens look to government for assistance during poor economic times. Public sector employees remaining in the workplace are not only faced with increasing workload and negative incentives to retire early, they also face the anger of frustrated citizens struggling with unemployment, under-employment, and diminished public assistance. Public administrators must embrace innovative strategies quickly and wholeheartedly to meet the daily challenge of providing service. Innovation and reinventing the workplace must top the list of priorities for agencies to succeed. Strategies that involve and value employees with die skills to innovate, adapt, and produce will be the most successful in the near and long term future of public service. The involvement of external stakeholders in a systemic process must also be considered as a strategy to improve the chances for ongoing success. This paper provides an overview of reduced resources experienced in state and local governments in the United States. Examples of current public sector responses are provided. The need for innovation is emphasized in the face of further reductions. Finally, suggested factors for implementing innovation are offered for consideration.