Overview of project
This project focuses on innovation in the public sector of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). UAE is a multicultural society and has a lot of resources reserved for innovation. This innovation has been quite smooth in the private sector, but the same cannot be said about the public sector. Public innovation has not been without its challenges. This project aims to highlight challenges, lessons, and successes of innovation in the public sector of the UAE.
Theory and hypothesis
Public sector institutions in the UAE have strived to attain a favorable rating for innovation. In a rating with a maximum score of seven stars, most of these institutions score no more than five stars and no less than three stars. This is an indication that there has been some progress made in public innovation in this nation. A rating of seven stars implies efficiency and healthy levels of citizen’s satisfaction (Buhumaid, Constantin and Schubert 2016). The UAE can improve its public sector’s public engagement and customer focused service delivery through innovation, and make it at par with those of the best performing public sectors around the globe. In the project, the performance of the public sector in the UAE and other developed economies will be reviewed on this front of innovation.
Analysis of results and limitations
The expected limitation is time, which might not be inadequate. The public sector of UAE innovation touches on seven sectors space, water, education, transport, renewable energy, health, and technology. Getting sufficient information on the legislation and actual implementation of policies by the public sector in all these areas might take much longer than is available. It is also not very easy to determine the progress made by the public sector in innovation in this Middle Eastern Emirate given that the innovation strategy by the government for the public sector, to create an enabling environment is barely two years old( United Arabs Emirates the cabinet 2016). Future research projects following this one should focus on Technology and public sector innovation in the UAE.
Contributions and outlets
This project would arouse the interests of policy makers in other countries, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that would like to emulate UAE. This tiny nation has done well but can do better (Shiftin Partners 2016). The project would be suited for journals on public policy and public administration.
Citations/ References
Articles from public policy journals would be used, article used would be the ones touching on the public sector innovation in the UAE. There would also be articles included from reputable think tanks and consultancy groups such as Mckinsey. These are all expected to meet the threshold of scholarly sources.
Anticipated challenges
It might not be easy to get materials that directly relate to the UAE and innovation in the public sector.
Appendix
Public sector Innovation outcome
Outcome
Illustration of the effect of Public sector innovation on innovation
Public sector innovation
Private sector innovation
30 % of UAE innovation
7O % UAE innovation
References
AL-Ameri, M. 2013. Assessing resistance to technological change for improved job performance in the UAE (Public Sectors). Salford, University of Salford. PhD Thesis (Online). Available at: http://usir.salford.ac.uk/30722/1/Assessing_Resistance_to_Technological_Change_for_Improved_Job_Performance_in_the_UAE_ (Public_Sectors).pdf (Accessed; 1 September, 2016).
Buhumaid, H. Constantin, M. and Schubert, J. 2016. How the UAE government modernized citizen services. (Online). Available at: http://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/how-the-uae-government-modernized-citizen-services (Accessed: 1 September 2016).
Mokyr, J. 1997. The political economy of technological change: Resistance and innovation in economic history. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University. (Online). Available at: https://sites.northwestern.edu/jmokyr/files/2016/06/The-Political-Economy-of-Technological-Change-March-1997-29a2v5e.pdf (Accessed: 1 September 1, 2016).
Shiftin Partners. 2016. Government innovation from within. (Online). Available at: http://www.shiftinpartners.com/government-innovation-from-within/ (Accessed: 1 September 2016).
United Arab Emirates the Cabinet. 2016. The national strategy for innovation. (Online). Available at: http://uaecabinet.ae/en/the-national-strategy-for-innovation (Accessed: 1 September 1, 2016).
United Arab Emirates. 2015. Science technology & innovation policy. (Online). Available at: http://www.government.ae/documents/10138/98433/Science+Technology+and+Innovation+Policy.pdf/418aef31-fb7c-43cf-9084-14873799cd35 (Accessed: 1 September 1, 2016).
