Innovation Potential of the Modern Russian Civil Servants in Public Administration

Abstract

Innovation can be defined as a change in technology—more simply stated, in the way government workers/civil servants/public administrators do their jobs—whether the technology relates to a process, computer hardware or software, or the human side of the government enterprise. Contemporary advances in technology facilitating the rapid spread of information have led to worldwide societal changes and improved productivity. After analyzing civil servants’ professional activities, values, and attitudes, and assessing their capacity for change, public sector organizations must adapt functions and strategies. This is a systemic, behavioral analysis of the innovation potential of Russian public administrators. Empirical data were collected using a survey of Russian civil servants of the Sverdlovsk region, an analysis of their job descriptions, expert interviews, and focus-group interviews. The objective of this analysis is to assess innovation potential of these civil servants and identify factors that facilitate or hinder innovation potential within the Russian government. From these factors, practical strategies for increasing the level of civil servants’ innovation potential are deduced and presented. Results of the analysis expand management theories included in public administration literature and curricula thus leading to improved management training or retraining processes.