Building an Innovation Culture

Course Description

The aim of this high-impact one-day workshop is to equip the Innovation Team with the tools, frameworks and shared understanding to define a Culture of Innovation, prioritize opportunities and map actionable next steps. This intensive session provides practical tools, frameworks and shared understanding to make innovation an integral part of the public sector culture. Participants will work collaboratively to define what innovation means in their organisational or departmental context, identify priority opportunities and create actionable implementation plans that respect public sector governance while driving meaningful change. This workshop will align with the Priority 1, 2 and 3 goals of the Making Innovation Real strategy.
1 Day
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Likely outputs

A collaboratively defined Culture of Innovation statement
Draft Innovation SWOT & stakeholder alignment summary
Initial prioritization framework with identified opportunities
Action plan for addressing cultural/mindset barriers
Early mapping of fixed/flexible/free constraints and tech readiness

We have a long history of working with the public sector and we believe that building skillsets at all levels and developing the right supports will help to embed innovation across the public service.

Opening

Welcome and introductions
Programme objectives and success measures
The innovation imperative in public sector transformation
Ground rules for psychological safety and open dialogue

Defining “Culture of Innovation”

Framing the role of innovation in the organisation
Interactive exercise: What does innovation mean in our context?
Drafting a shared definition, values and principles
Leadership’s role in shaping innovation culture

Choosing & Applying Innovation Models

Short overview of Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Agile Innovation, Open Innovation, Business Model Innovation
Exercise: Using Business Model Canvas & Innovation Canvas to frame problems and opportunities
Group reflection: Which models fit our context best?

SWOT & Stakeholder Alignment

Innovation SWOT analysis: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats
Mapping stakeholder expectations
Discussion: What tensions or risks need to be managed?

Prioritisation & Pathways

Impact vs. Effort Matrix for prioritisation
Agreeing innovation priorities
Defining pathways for teams/departments
Criteria for selection and eligibility

Overcoming Barriers to Innovation

Group discussion: Common cultural and mindset barriers (fear of failure, risk aversion, compliance pressures)
Action planning: building psychological safety and resilience
Leadership behaviours that encourage experimentation

Systems, Processes & Technology

Mapping constraints with Fixed, Flexible & Free pyramid
Identifying process bottlenecks and non-value-added work
Exploring AI readiness and ethical innovation
Criteria for technology-driven initiatives

Synthesis & Commitments

Review of six likely outputs (Innovation Culture Definition, SWOT, Prioritization Framework, etc.)
Individual + team commitments: what we will take forward
Next steps: linking outputs to staff-wide training & pilot projects
Culture of InnovationInnovation ModelsDesign ThinkingAgile Innovation