Factors Influencing Innovation in Local Public Administration Services: The Case of The Municipalities of the Intermunicipal Community of Beiras and Serra da Estrela

Abstract

This study focuses on the analysis of innovation in Local Public Institutions, namely in the municipalities of the Intermunicipal Community of Beiras and Serra da Estrela (CIM BSE). The objective is to identify patterns of innovation in these institutions and to understand the factors that influence innovation in Local Public Administration (APL) services. For this purpose, Cluster Analysis was used as methodology, to analyse the positioning of the different Municipalities in terms of innovation, and Scheffe's mean difference test, to identify the main characteristics associated with the best innovation performance in these institutions. The information was collected by a survey addressed to the 15 Municipalities of the CIM BSE. The study contributes to a better knowledge of the theme and allowed us to conclude that the number of employees and their academic qualifications do not influence the most innovative behaviour of BSE Local Municipalities. The dynamics of innovation in APL institutions is associated with those whose objectives to innovate are based on increasing the efficiency and quality of services, the improvement of online services, the satisfaction of the citizen and the improvement of working conditions; to active leadership and the high costs to innovate as the main barrier to innovation.