Bricolage and invisible innovation in public service innovation

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to discuss how the definitions of innovation must be extended in order to analyse innovation in a public service-institution and uncover the reality of innovation in such an institution. A case study of home-help for the elderly has been carried out. Interviews with top-management, middle management as well as nurses and home helpers have been conducted. The case-study shows that innovation is a core activity and that process-based concepts such as “ad hoc innovation” (Gallouj & Weinstein, 1997), “a posteriori recognition of innovation” (Toivonen et al., 2007) and “bricolage” (see e.g. Styhre, 2009) are highly relevant to understanding and analysing development processes in this context. These concepts point to a more process- and practise-based approach to innovation.JEL codes: L8, O3, H4