Promoting Innovation in Public Organisations: An Analysis in a National Public Institution in Algeria

Abstract

Organisational innovation has become a critical factor for the survival and competitiveness of public-sector organisations. This form of innovation entails the introduction of new ways of doing and organising work that aimed at enhancing the organisation’s capacity to achieve its objectives. The aim of this study is therefore to explore the conditions that stimulate the development of organisational innovation in the context of a national public institution experiencing transformation and modernisation in Algeria. More specifically, our aim is to identify the internal and external conditions that facilitate the emergence of innovation, using a descriptive and analytical approach based on qualitative data collection (interviews and observations). The results of this work show that innovation is not isolated in the organisation, but is influenced by the organisation’s internal and external environment. This environment exerts pressure but also provides the conditions and the opportunities for innovation. The existence of a clear development strategy and project-based working structures provides a favourable context for innovation. Innovation is also a collective phenomenon, arising from the contribution of all key people in the organisation and the mobilisation of collective capacities through the role of leadership and the organisational support. Public organisations must therefore pay particular attention to these aspects in order to create value and innovate in their practices and remain competitive in an increasingly turbulent environment.