This paper explores the tensions among innovation,
values and risk-taking that public sector managers face
when they make decisions about uncertain outcomes.
Rapidly changing environments suggest that innovation
needs to be a regular way of thinking for public service
managers. Yet, the values of public service managers
have been influenced by a tradition that emphasized
caution, a tradition that limited innovation through
equating risk with danger. Accordingly, the issue of
managing risk in the public service often became
synonymous with avoiding risk, which also implied
avoiding innovation. Managers may need to increasingly
develop the ability to view tensions among innovation,
values and risk not as conflicts to be avoided, but as
opportunities to be managed. The paper makes four
suggestions for consideration by Risk Management
Division.
