UNLEASHING INNOVATION:

A CLOSER
LOOK AT
STRATEGY
STUDYING GOVERNMENT INNOVATION
Using our Innovation Framework, Accenture conducted a
global study of government innovation. Here we focus on
the Strategy pillar:

STRATEGY
Recognizing the importance
of innovation. Strategically IDEATION ABSORPTION EXECUTION IMPACT &
advancing partnerships BENEFITS
externally and fostering
collaboration internally.

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 2

WHAT HAVE WE
LEARNED ABOUT
WEAVING INNOVATION
INTO AN AGENCY’S
STRATEGY?
NEARLY EVERYONE AGREES
INNOVATION IS IMPORTANT

90% 89% 88%

AGENCIES REPORT EXECS AGENCIES REPORT EMPLOYEES AGENCIES RATE

SEE INNOVATION AS PART SEE INNOVATION AS PART OF INNOVATION AS
OF THEIR DAY-TO-DAY AND THEIR DAY-TO-DAY IMPORTANT CRITERION
LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CAREER PROGRESSION
RESPONSIBILITIES

90% 95%

AGENCIES HAVE CLEAR AGENCIES INCLUDE

DEFINITION OF “WHAT INNOVATION IN
INNOVATION IS” STRATEGIC PLAN

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 4

NO SINGLE PATH TO SUCCESS
But some leading practices emerging
Having different people oversee different parts of the innovation process showed up as a
key differentiator of the Innovation Leaders
WHO IN YOUR AGENCY MANAGES INNOVATION THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS? (SELECT ALL)
56%
49% 49% 48%
41% 40% 38%

Through the Senior Through partnering Different people oversee Through all its Through the development Through an internal
Leadership Team with a third party the different parts of the employees or section that is R&D/Innovation
for our innovation innovation process integrating the innovation team or lab

ALL RESPONDENTS INNOVATION LEADERS EVERYONE ELSE

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 5
DIVERSE COMMUNICATION TACTICS
When it comes to innovation, agencies are using a variety
of communications tactics
Innovation Leaders are much more inclined towards dedicating time periodically to
discuss innovation and soliciting innovative ideas via email
HOW AND WHERE DOES YOUR AGENCY COMMUNICATE THE NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE? (SELECT ALL)

65%
60%
51% 51% 50%
43% 40% 41%
38%

We are discussing It is discussed at Agency leadership We dedicate time It is part of our Employees There is an internal
our need to be staff meetings communicates their periodically to daily regularly receive website dedicated
innovative with desire for innovative ideas discussing innovation conversations emails soliciting to innovation
external stakeholders innovative ideas

ALL RESPONDENTS INNOVATION LEADERS EVERYONE ELSE

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 6
EVERYONE IS PARTNERING
LEADERS COLLABORATE IN SPECIFIC WAYS
Agencies use external partnerships to support innovation
strategy in a wide variety of ways
Leaders stand out for their collaborations in two areas:
Partnering for identifying priority
themes and building an innovation agenda

54%
INNOVATION LEADERS
39%
EVERYONE ELSE

Partnering for oversight and governance

54%
INNOVATION LEADERS
37%
EVERYONE ELSE

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 7

USE ANALYTICS TO GUIDE INNOVATION
Emerging best practice: Analyze market trends to identify
priority themes and issues for agency’s innovation agenda

USING ANALYTICS TO A GREAT EXTENT

67% 34%
INNOVATION EVERYONE
LEADERS ELSE

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READY TO IMPROVE
YOUR APPROACH?
FOLLOW THE LEADERS
ESTABLISH AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH

PARTNER on priority and agenda

setting as well as oversight and
governance

SEEK IDEAS from a wide range of

sources–particularly employees

DIFFUSE INNOVATION
Throughout the organization so that many
people are managing different parts of the
process

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 10

DON’T ASSIGN INNOVATION
ORCHESTRATE IT
1 No single person or team is 2 Make communication 3 Differentiate who
responsible for innovation– continuous and never does what using
it’s a team effort stop asking for ideas which resources:

INNOVATION HUB EXECUTION TEAM

Manages a continuous process of generating
and testing ideas
Should be held accountable for the process,
not for the strict outputs or outcomes
Focuses on implementing and scaling
individual projects deemed worthy of
investment
Composition will vary based on the innovation
being deployed
Should be held accountable for the specific
targets established

Watch for more in our future discussion on the Absorption pillar

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 11

METHODOLOGY In October 2017,
Accenture surveyed

CANADA UNITEDKINGDOM
IRELAND GERMANY
591 RESPONDENTS
FRANCE ITALY
UNITEDSTATES From 10 countries

BRAZIL

SOUTH AFRICA AUSTRALIA

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 12

METHODOLOGY
Respondents represented the following levels of government:

38% 38% 24%

Local State/Regional/Provincial National/Federal

Respondents represented these segments within government:

86%
Public Service (other than Education) – Government Agency

7%
Healthcare Provider – Public/Government Managed

7%
Healthcare Payor (Health Insurance) – Public/Government

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 13

METHODOLOGY
Government agency respondents
represented these functions: 5%
Defense
18%
Social Services/
Welfare
14%
Revenue/Tax

11% 8%
Policing/Justice Pensions
18% 8%
Employment Services Border Services/Customs

15% 3%
Centralized Administration Other

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. 14

CONTACT
MARK HOWARD
Global Administration Segment Lead
Public Service, Accenture

ABOUT ACCENTURE
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and
solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched
experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions —
underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network —Accenture works at the intersection of
business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for
their stakeholders. With approximately 442,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries,
Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION
VISIT US AT

www.Accenture.com/GovBackOffice