How to Use This Guide

Let’s review the guiding questions we used to create this resource. We interviewed public servants at various levels to understand how they define innovation, what innovation in action looked like in the past 18 months (March 2020-September 2021), and how they plan to sustain and iterate on those gains.

As you read the interview questions below, consider how you and your colleagues might answer them. How do you define innovation? Keep your responses in mind as you read the diverse stories and case studies throughout this guide.

In the past 18 months, what innovative approach have you seen in response to COVID-19 that

shows signs of longevity? Is there an example that’s either internal to your agency or impacts external customers/constituents?

What is/will be key to making this innovation stick?

What are the common barriers to making this innovation stick? We often hear about successes once they are in place, but sharing barriers takes the stigma out of failing forward.

What practical steps can you and your colleagues take to give innovative ideas longevity? Consider steps that can withstand budget cycles, administration changes, short attention spans and other variables.

What can you and your team do to build on knowledge and lessons gained in the past 18 to 20

months? Are there other use cases for the progress you’ve made?

How can innovators like yourself stay engaged and overcome feelings of being stuck or stifled

while working in government? There are recent examples of passionate and well-intentioned employees getting burned out because they don’t see a path forward to progress in government.