Managing innovation to overhaul a patient-care environment

Innovation in public service organizations must be managed, just as it must be in any business. However, in older, large public organizations, specific strategies are needed. One such strategy is described in development and impact. The first step was utilizing external demands to create an atmosphere in which change was accepted as necessary. This was followed by a relaxation of top down procedural direction accompanied by persistent concentration on establishing new standards and objectives. The final major component was a management system intended to guide and shape development of innovations into an integrated program effectively addressing the new objectives and standards.