Understanding the 8 dimensions of “space for change”

Successful innovation within governments and other public sector organizations is as much about shaping the environment in which innovations are developed as it is about the innovations themselves. To foster the right circumstances, it's essential to navigate eight dimensions of "space for change."

Innovation is crucial for both private organizations and the public sector. Although extensive efforts have been made to foster innovation, many innovative projects still fail or struggle to scale. This issue often stems not from a lack of relevance – even great ideas struggle – but from the context in which innovation is attempted.

Regulatory, political, institutional, and organizational constraints

The concept of innovation is widely supported, and most people will confirm its importance. However, the same people might also try to control it once it begins. In the public sector, this tendency is amplified by numerous stakeholders, interests, and rules, leading to an accumulation of regulatory, political, institutional, and organizational constraints. These constraints significantly limit the space for innovation. They can halt projects, diminish the innovativeness of ideas, or complicate implementation to the point of infeasibility. Consequently, even when innovation is welcomed in principle, a truly supportive environment is often lacking.

This means innovation extends beyond the idea; it's fundamentally about shaping its environment. I propose the "space for change" concept, which represents an environment willing to relax established norms, values, beliefs, rules, and definitions to support an idea. This involves stakeholders removing, deprioritizing, or redefining constraints to allow an idea to prosper while also being resilient enough to endure occasional setbacks inherent in the innovation process.

An environment open for innovation

This perspective shifts the focus from the innovation itself to the broader system that must support and integrate it effectively. It also changes the task of innovators, as it becomes crucial for them to influence the space for change. I recognize eight dimensions of space that innovators can utilize:

Normative space: Refers to the moral and ethical standards within organizations and societies that an innovation is expected to adhere to. Agents of change can, for example, influence the perceived priority of norms or offer a specific definition of a norm to align with their project, hence create additional normative space for their idea.

Cognitive space: This is about the mental frameworks and models within organizations that innovations often challenge. Expanding this space requires introducing new, acceptable ways of thinking that question the status quo. For instance, the concept of adopting digital citizen services while phasing out a physical town hall may initially seem too radical for municipalities. However, integrating an option for on-demand, face-to-face meetings at home for certain groups can make stakeholders more open to this innovative approach.

Regulatory space: Defined by the legal and policy environment within which innovation operates. Innovators can expand this space by leveraging or creating flexibilities that for example allow for experiments or pilots. Alternatively, they can offer alternative interpretations of existing rules. This actions create space for bypassing the stifling effects of regulations.

Strategic space: This refers to the strategic goals and plans of an organization that an innovation is expected to contribute to. Innovators can create space by explaining how their project aligns with the broader strategic objectives. They can also (try to) influence the actual strategy to make the innovations integral to achieving long-term goals.

Cultural space: Culture relates to the shared beliefs, values, and norms within an organization that influence not only what innovations are pursued, but how they are approached. The public sector's risk-averse nature often leads to lengthy, detailed planning processes that stifles innovation. Leaders can create more space for change by cultivating a culture that accepts uncertainty and risk. Innovators can also help by framing their ideas to align with core organizational values, or selectively emphasizing specific norms that support the innovation.

Financial space: This refers to the money available to the innovation. Many innovations launch with limited funding, forcing frequent searches for additional money. This likely leads to new constraints every round of negotiations. Innovators who secure more funding, from multiple sources, over a longer timeframe have greater freedom to implement their ideas.

Political space: Political pressures play a major role in the public sector. They shape space through the support or opposition of political actors and the broader political climate. Creating space for change can be done through endorsement by influential political actors or by aligning with political agendas to help politicians demonstrate impact.

Pragmatic Space: This is the practical dimension of space, where rules and regulations and other constrains are relaxed to address urgent needs or capitalize on opportunities. Innovators can expand pragmatic space by stating urgency or addressing imminent critical risks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, many countries' health ministries were able to relax purchasing legislation for personal protective equipment (PPE) because of the urgent health crisis.

An innovator can facilitate innovation by leveraging various dimensions of space. The flexibility of these dimensions varies depending on the context. Having ample space in several dimensions may suffice to propel an idea forward, even if other areas are constrained. Innovators must carefully evaluate each dimension of space through dialogue. Understanding stakeholders' concerns is crucial for identifying potential constraints on innovations and exploring mitigation strategies. This engagement helps innovators determine which dimensions of space can be expanded and which may pose challenges or barriers. It's important to note that a complete lack of space in critical dimensions, such as regulatory or financial, can severely impede innovation. These barriers must be addressed as priorities, as they are often insurmountable without significant changes or interventions. This analysis allows for the development of a comprehensive plan to manage spaces effectively and adapt the innovation to fit within these constraints, ensuring the idea is compatible with the available space.

In sum, The "space for change" concept describes the openness of an environment for innovation amidst various constraints. This space is created through the interaction between an innovator's actions and existing conditions, such as regulatory frameworks, societal norms, political climates, and financial realities. It embodies the idea that an innovator's ability to relax, redefine, or navigate constraints is crucial for bringing new ideas to fruition. This involves strategic actions to negotiate and transform constraints, highlighting that successful innovation is as much about shaping the context in which innovations are developed and implemented as it is about the innovations themselves.