There’s at least one thing liberals and conservatives have in common: They care how their government spends their tax dollars. Facing intense pressure from all sides, the public sector is always innovating in the hopes of delivering effective, efficient services. As part of this effort, public and nonprofit organizations often adopt the competitive structure, culture, and management practices of private businesses. However, public sector innovation may benefit more from collaboration than competition.
Public-sector innovation is a process through which “problems are defined; new ideas are developed and combined; prototypes and pilots are designed, tested, and redesigned; and new solutions are implemented, diffused, and problematized.” In this context, innovation is disruptive, breaking down barriers such as political oppositions, and leading to the adoption of new technologies and approaches. Improving an existing solution is not enough. To solve emerging and evolving problems, public and nonprofit organizations must be in a constant state of change.
While innovation is not a cure-all—integrated planning, resource allocation, and service improvements are all just as important—it can help governments make the most of limited resources. Here are several innovations that are transforming public and non-profit organizations.
Web 2.0 tools provide numerous ways for governments to engage with the public—with admittedly mixed results. Twitter has become a go-to platform for politicians looking to rile up their bases. However, after an earthquake, hurricane, or other crisis, this same platform is used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to gather real-time emergency information from community members that inform response efforts. Social media platforms, along with blogs, wikis, crowdsourcing, and other Web 2.0 tools, allow agencies to promote transparency while encouraging people to participate and collaborate in improving public services.
Co-production is a process in which government and non-government organizations collaborate to improve public services. For example, health departments performed contact tracing at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, engaging with communities to provide them with the resources and services they needed. Licensed healthcare professionals were later asked to volunteer to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in their communities. New, creative solutions emerge when people with different perspectives and experiences are brought together, and it’s yet another example of how collaboration breeds innovation.
Public organizations may not operate like businesses, but they can reduce costs and manage risks by forming public-private partnerships (P3s). The U.S. happens to be one of the largest—if not the largest—P3 market in the world for infrastructure projects, and there are countless opportunities across the country for for-profit firms to take on a project’s design, construction, and maintenance. Minority- and women-owned businesses are often given priority during the procurement process, helping to foster a collaborative, innovative environment.
Achieving goals while operating within a budget is a priority for any public entity, but unlike private businesses, public institutions aren’t driven by profits. They exist for the sole benefit of citizens, delivering services like healthcare, infrastructure, public transit, and public education. Although red tape can be counterproductive, bureaucracy can actually promote innovation by safeguarding against waste, instability, and corruption. Policies can be rewritten. A risk-averse private business that favors short-term profits over creativity and collaboration? That can be a harder problem to solve.
Not everyone has access to public services, especially healthcare. About 20% of the U.S. population live in rural areas and tend to have higher rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and unintentional injury than their urban counterparts. Numerous factors contribute to the poor health outcomes of rural Americans, but the fact that only 11% of physicians practice in these areas doesn’t help. Telehealth has increased access to healthcare in rural and underserved areas, but government agencies must continue innovating if they are to provide equal access to these and other essential public services.
The innovations we’ve discussed offer a glimpse at the focus of the UT Permian Basin course Innovation in Public and Nonprofit Organizations. This online course exposes students to innovative tools and practices, exploring such topics as performance measurement, collaborative innovation, and social entrepreneurship. By engaging with online lectures and discussions, students gain a deeper understanding of public-sector innovation in preparation for careers in emergency, financial, human resource, and public relations management, among others.
Innovation in Public and Nonprofit Organizations is offered as part of our online Master of Public Administration program. This 36-credit online program prepares students for leadership roles in public administration by teaching them how to address challenges in a practical, ethical, and politically savvy manner. In as little as one year, students can graduate with a career-enhancing graduate credential and an expanded skill set that will help ensure their success in fields including criminal justice, fine arts, healthcare, human services, public safety, or transportation.
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s MPA program is entirely online and features asynchronous elements, allowing you to pursue your master’s degree while you continue to work, care for your family, and balance your personal and professional life. We also offer a variety of elective courses, such as Marketing Management, Healthcare Management, and Cultural Diversity in Education and the Social Sciences, so you can gear your studies toward your professional interests. At UT Permian Basin, every measure has been taken to offer you an online MPA program with as much value as possible.
Apply to our online MPA program now to pursue your graduate degree alongside other aspiring leaders in professional administration.
Sources:
https://edisciplinas.usp.br/pluginfile.php/4908005/mod_resource/content/1/A11-Collaborative%20Innovation.pdf
https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/governance/fostering-innovation-in-the-public-sector_9789264270879-en#page13
https://www.oecd.org/media/oecdorg/satellitesites/stie-outlook/files/policyprofile/STI%20Outlook%2012_%20PP%20Actors_Public%20Sector%20Innovation.pdf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0740624X1300083X
https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Social-Media-EM_0913-508_0.pdf
If you’re passionate about improving communities, solving complex problems, or leading change within government or nonprofit organizations, a career in public administration could be your calling. Public administrators are the behind-the-scenes professionals who help bring policies to life, ensuring that essential services—like healthcare, education, and housing—run efficiently and effectively.
Earning a Master of Public Administration (MPA) can open the door to leadership roles in a variety of sectors. In this article, we’ll explore what public administrators do and the types of careers you can pursue with an MPA.
Public administration involves the design, organization, and execution of public affairs and policies. However, this definition doesn’t fully capture the importance of public administrators. These far-reaching leaders in government and nonprofit organizations plan, analyze, and coordinate activities and manage the achievement of public goals.
Public administrators can wield tremendous influence, and many of them play pivotal roles in local, state, and federal governments and in a variety of nonprofit organizations, in essential areas including:
Public administration is devoted to the noble cause of public service. This makes public administrators a source of stability within government agencies, especially during transitions of power.
To carry out this responsibility effectively, public administrators must have excellent leadership, communication, analytical, and organizational skills, all of which can help them rise through the ranks and see their aspirations brought to fruition.
The duties of a public administrator tend to vary based on the organization they are working for. For example, one public administrator may work to develop laws and policies at the state level, while another may manage a city department working on specific issues impacting the community at the local level.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment of public administrators is expected to grow by 6% by 2029, greater than the national average for all occupations. Well over 20,000 public administrator positions will need to be filled throughout this period, including many in the following areas:
Public administrators play a variety of roles in local, state, and federal government, developing, researching, enforcing, and managing policies to improve communities. Positions in governmental management include:
Nonprofit management will be of particular interest to public administrators hoping to tackle a specific issue in their community, such as a humanitarian crisis. Positions in nonprofit management include:
Postsecondary education administrators can create lasting change at colleges and universities. Alternatively, public administrators in education can pursue careers at government entities, where they will be able to advocate for causes deemed most beneficial for students, faculty, and staff.
Positions in educational management include:
Public administrators in local and state hospitals work closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers to improve the quality of healthcare delivered to patients. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for medical and health services managers is projected to grow 29% between 2023 and 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. That growth translates to approximately 61,400 new job openings each year.
Positions in healthcare administration include:
If you’re considering a Master of Public Administration (MPA), you likely have questions about what the degree can do for your career and how it fits into the public service landscape. Below, we answer a few common questions to help guide your decision.
Devotion is a quality shared by many public administrators. For the aspiring public administrator with a desire to serve their community, we offer a convenient, affordable online MPA program.
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online MPA program provides the tools needed to become an effective leader and changemaker for your community. You’ll discover practical, competent, ethical, and legal ways to address organizational issues and policy questions with the goal of upholding public interest.
Designed with working professionals in mind, our program is delivered entirely online and can be completed at your convenience. Our course offerings place control of your education in your hands, allowing you to tailor your degree to your interests with electives such as:
Public administration is a rewarding career unlike any other, where a single administrative decision can mean profound and positive changes for a community. Whether championing a cause or driven by a general desire to make a difference, you can make a genuine impact in your community by earning an MPA and pursuing a career in public administration.
Apply to our online MPA program and discover how to enact positive change in your personal and professional life as well as the world around you.
Sources:
https://www.academia.edu/40428458/Introducing_Public_Administration
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm#tab-1
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm#tab-6
https://thebestschools.org/degrees/public-administration-degree
https://www.britannica.com/topic/public-administration
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