Risky business—reconceptualizing risk and innovation in public services

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between risk and innovation in public services, presenting the state of the literature across different disciplines and the academic and policy literature. It suggests a novel framework to approach risk, emphasising the importance of differentiating between different types of risk and risk management. The paper offers a typology of risk types and management approaches that indicates different effects on the type of public service innovation. It concludes by considering the implications for theory and practice.

Keywords:

• Innovation
• public services
• risk
• social innovation
• uncertainty

Acknowledgements

This paper was written as part of the European Union FP7 project: ‘Learning from Innovation in Public Service Environments’ (www.lipse.org).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sophie Flemig

Sophie Flemig is an early career fellow at the University of Edinburgh, UK, focusing on public policy and innovation.

Stephen Osborne

Stephen Osborne is Chair of International Public Management and Director of the Centre for Service Excellence, University of Edinburgh, UK.

Tony Kinder

Tony Kinder was formerly Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, University of Edinburgh, UK.