In two decades of awards, how many for innovation? The role of diffusion within the Enap Awards

Abstract

This study maps the dimensions and variables that explain the diffusion of innovation in public services and test their applicability in the case of the ENAP Awards. The article presents a literature review that supports a conceptual explanatory theoretical model for innovation diffusion in public services, for future use in an empirical test. The model consists of two dimensions and ten variables. In the dimension organization characteristics, the variables are resource slack, flexibility and decentralization, alignment between high-management, managers, nad leaders, inter and intra-organizational communication, risk-taking capacity, and organizational learning/knowledge. As for the dimension innovation characteristics, the variables are adaptation/reinvention, complexity, relative advantage, and compatibility). The occurrence of these dimensions and their variables were tested through the perception of five members of the external review team of the ENAP Awards (called ‘Specialists’). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the specialists. The research used content analysis and -pre-set categories to examine the interviews and documents related to the Awards. The specialists recognized and typified the dimensions and variables, confirming the applicability of the theoretical dimensions in the public services. However, some variables (such as “Risk-taking Capacity”) manifested differently from the way the original theory introduced them.

Keywords:
Diffusion of innovations; Innovation in public services; Diffusion of innovations in public services