The politics and patterns of public innovations

This paper explores the politics and processes of public innovation, emphasizing its institutional characteristics compared to private sector innovations. Unlike market-driven private innovations, public innovations are embedded within political systems, involving different stakeholders including citizens, politicians, and public managers. This paper examines phases of public innovations, using illustrative case studies from public libraries. By analyzing the innovation process through four conceptual phases - initiation, progression, sharing and spreading, and assessment - the paper highlights the complex interplay of formal and informal politics in public sector innovation. The findings emphasize the importance of political framing, stakeholder engagement, and the iterative nature of public innovation processes. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how public organizations navigate the challenges of innovation within a political context, offering valuable insights for both theory and practice.