Over the past few years, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has been engaged in an initiative to transform the Public Service into a learning organisation - by sharing knowledge and experiences through all sections. As a result, the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) was established in July 2001.
The CPSI is a non-profit company incorporated under section 21 of the Companies Act (Act no. 61 of 1973). It was formed to mainstream innovation and utilise the productive creative energies of public servants, the private sector and all other role-players in SA.
The vision of the CPSI is simple: "To enable the South African Public Service to be able to effectively implement innovative ideas in its quest for improved service delivery."
The centre is a partnership effort between national Government departments and the private sector and community organisations, extending its reaches to the ordinary citizen.
The CPSI will operate as a "virtual" organisation, drawing its inspiration and capacity from all quarters in order to further its objectives. The main objectives of the CPSI include the incubation, promotion and marketing of innovative ideas for better service delivery and the support and encouragement of creativity in the Public Service by rewarding and nurturing innovators.
It also aims to provide resources to innovative public servants and interested citizens or organisations, do research, develop and test as well as successfully pilot innovative ideas and practices. At the same time the Centre will also render a remote oversight function over the implementation of these ideas and practices and promote knowledge management and a learning organisation culture within the Public Service.
It is envisioned that the CPSI will manifest itself, through stakeholder demand, into in-house testing and implementation of innovative ideas within all sectors of society. This will be possible if the centre has a successful initiation period and will then not only be confined to the Public Service.
The CPSI will have 13 Board members, consisting of 12 non-executive and one executive director. Board member representation will be from Government and the public sector, the private sector, unions and civil society. The executive director will also be the appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the centre. The CEO and senior management, in consultation with the Board, will manage the affairs and perform the functions of the centre.
Current Board members include:
Dr Rob Adam: Director-General for the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Ms Dudu Hlatswayo, Group Executive: Restructuring at Transnet Mr Mandla Gantsho, CEO/MD of the Development Bank of South Africa Ms Saguna Gordhan, Programme Manager: Business Trust Mr Stuart Lumka, Director: Public Sector Finance at Standard Corporate Merchant Bank Mr James Maseko, Chair: Working Group Institute on Higher Learning in Mpumalanga Mr Frank Meintjies, Independent Business Consultant Mr Robinson Ramaite, Director-General of the Department of Public Service and Administration Mr Sello Rasethaba, Chairperson of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) Board.
Four more members, including a representative of organised labour in the Public Service Bargaining Council, will be appointed by Cabinet soon.
Operation of the centre will take a core-team approach. It will outsource all or most of its non-core activities, co-opting capacity from both public and private sectors to render services on its behalf, where appropriate.
The Headquarters of the CPSI is situated at the Centurion Office of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). This office will act as a central point for performing management functions. Other locations, which may be more suitable to undertake the various tasked pilot projects, will be identified as the projects are launched. SITA e-Services is contributing to the initiative by rendering specialised IT services to the Centre.
The CPSI will be funded by cash and in-kind sponsorships, private sector contributions and contributions from departments which are primary beneficiaries of the output of the Centre. Anybody can therefore contribute to the initiative.
Individuals, companies and organisations interested in participating or requiring more information with regard to the CPSI can send their questions to either of the following e-mail addresses:
questions.innovations@sita.co.za
ideas,innovations@sita.co.za
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