The role of excellence and innovation awards in the public service: the canadian experience

Abstract

Awards for excellence and innovation can play a vital role in the public service. They hold the potential of multiple benefits such as encouraging replication of an innovation or an innovative approach to solve problems more readily and effectively, raising morale and therefore the performance of the organization, raising the profile of the public service as an employer to help it compete for talent, and generally improving public attitudes towards the public service. The experience of administering IPAC's Award for Innovative Management over the course of two decades provides interesting research as well as guidance on best practices that may be useful to other jurisdictions and agencies.