The public sector innovation for development of Thai public sector

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the evolution and typology of public sector innovation in Thailand, identify supportive and obstructive factors, and propose new development guidelines. This study was conducted through data collection processes that included relevant literature reviews and in-depth interviews with government officials working with the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) to develop public sector innovation. The findings revealed that the evolution of Thailand’s public sector innovation could be characterized in three periods: first, “under the context of bureaucratic reform,” second, as “Central-Institutional Innovation,” and third, as “Partnership Innovation” under the Kingdom of Thailand constitution of B.E. 2560. The findings revealed that political and administrative factors, cooperation with international development organizations, and awarding and rewarding schemes are all supportive factors of public sector innovation. The absence of authorized responsible agencies, operating budget constraints, and a lack of cooperation among related parties are all obstacles to Thailand’s public sector innovation development. The proposed development guidelines include a more citizen-centric approach, improved collaboration between relevant sectors, and increased budget allocation to utilize public sector innovation effectively.