Open innovation in the public sector: drivers and barriers for the adoption of Challenge.gov

ABSTRACT

Online Open Innovation (OI) platforms like Challenge.gov are used to post public sector problem statements, collect and evaluate ideas submitted by citizens with the goal to increase government innovation. Using quantitative data extracted from contests posted to Challenge.gov and qualitative interviews with thirty-six public managers in fourteen federal departments contribute to the discovery and analysis of intra-, inter, and extra-organizational factors that drive or hinder the implementation of OI in the public sector. The analysis shows that system-inherent barriers hinder public sector organizations to adopt this procedural and technological innovation. However, when the mandate of the innovation policy aligns with the mission of the organization, it opens opportunities for change in innovation acquisition and standard operating procedures.

KEYWORDS:

• Online Open Innovation platforms
• barriers for e-government adoption
• government innovation
• crowdsourcing innovations

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ines Mergel

Ines Mergel is full professor of public administration at the Department of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Konstanz. Her research focusses on digital transformation, innovative use of new technologies, and networked governance. She currently serves as the Associate Editor of Government Information Quarterly.