Enablers and barriers to public innovation

A case of local government spheres in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

The South African democratic dispensation faces challenges due to a lack of public innovation. After 30 years of democracy, the overall impact is under scrutiny. This study contributes to ongoing debates regarding the role of public administrators in post-apartheid public transformation, particularly in the context of public innovation. Guided by the multi-level perspective technology, organisation, actors, institutions, and systems (TOADS) theory and qualitative data collection methods, the study explored the enablers and barriers to digital transformation in eThekwini Municipality. Seven senior city officials and three community members were purposely sampled and interviewed in depth. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data identified the enablers of and barriers to public innovation. Technological infrastructure emerged as a policy enabler, while barriers included flawed bureaucratic systems, poorly implemented public innovation plans, unmonitored policies, delayed decision making
processes, resistance to change, and risk aversion. These barriers threaten the realisation of Section 151 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1994 and undermine good governance and the effectiveness of local municipalities. The study proposed an improvement plan that eThekwini Municipality should adopt to expedite public innovation for its citizens. The study asserted that the strength of South Africa's democratic dispensation hinges on public innovation aimed at accelerating service delivery for all citizens. In this context, public innovation is crucial for enhancing the quality of public services and strengthening the government’s problem-solving capabilities, including accelerating electronic government (e-government) to expedite service delivery.