SERDANG: CIVIL servants are urged to challenge the status quo, contradict the conventional approach and build the courage to come up with unique, out-of-the-box ideas.
In making the call, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said a culture of innovation would have to be cultivated in the public service to better improve the quality of the delivery system.
“To achieve this, the roles of heads of departments is crucial as to provide space and opportunity to his or her subordinates to expand their ideas. They should be encouraged to innovate and look for better solutions to existing problems.”
Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Department’s Innovation and Excellence Day, here, yesterday, Muhyiddin said heads of department should be creative in preparing platforms to generate and encourage the growth of new ideas.
Heads of departments, he said, could conduct brainstorming sessions in small groups, provide opportunities for subordinates to attend training to enhance their skills and give incentives and recognition to staff who create positive changes in the organisation.
This, he said, could attract civil servants to contribute to their respective departments voluntarily, as their ideas would simplify everyday duties.
“Civil servants should not only think out of the box, but also act on their ideas. A positive innovative ecosystem could be created in the workplace if this culture is cultivated. Innovative culture goes hand in hand with effective service delivery,” he said.
Muhyiddin said social innovation was as important as innovation based on research and development, as its played a role in the betterment of people’s lives.
He said the concept of social innovation could be instilled in the civil service through the establishment of new ideas that need to debated and tested.
“There should not be fear of failure and repeated attempts to obtain the best possible outcome. To encourage this, an innovation lab that provides space to try out new ideas can be set up at ministries, government departments and agencies. The existing Innovation Unit in ministries could consider setting up these labs.”
Social innovation, he said, would be successful only if it reaches the target group. Thus, channels and access to the community should be expanded.
Muhyiddin said the success of a nation depended on its human capital, and, in this context, civil servants acted as pillars of the country.
Thus, he said, civil servants should have a global mindset, without compromising their values, culture and morals.
He also encouraged civil servants to be active in community and social work, as well as sports and recreational activities to create a work-life balance.
“Let us become versatile individuals or organisations, especially in this hyper connected, multidirectional and interdependent world,” he said.
Present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.
-NST
