Incremental Innovation

In a world defined by rapid change and emerging technologies, innovation is often associated with large-scale transformation, redesigning departments, redefining roles, and redeploying talent. These initiatives tend to capture the headlines. However, within local government, where established processes guide performance and work often spans multiple teams, innovation can feel complex, disruptive, and even detrimental to productivity.

But what if innovation didn’t have to be large or disruptive? What if it could be incremental? By applying the principles of innovation in small, practical ways, organisations can foster a culture of curiosity, creativity and continuous improvement. Even large, complex organisations with legacy systems can embrace change in manageable and meaningful ways.

This session explores how two councils have successfully embedded incremental innovation and continuous improvement into their operations. They will share their experiences, demonstrating how creating space for staff to contribute ideas, test them safely, and refine workflows can transform organisational performance. Participants will gain practical insights and real examples that can be applied within their own roles in local government.

Maricopa County, Arizona

At Maricopa County, staff process thousands of property documents each day. While experienced teams bring deep operational knowledge, established routines can sometimes limit openness to change. Rather than pursuing a large-scale overhaul, the organisation focused on incremental innovation.

Staff were encouraged to identify challenges, suggest improvements, and experiment with new approaches in a safe and supported environment. Leaders were equipped with the skills to foster curiosity, encourage idea generation, and support continuous improvement.

As ideas emerged from across the organisation, small efficiencies in individual tasks began to accumulate. These incremental gains reduced repetitive effort, improved accuracy, and freed up capacity for more complex work, without increasing resourcing. Regular check-ins, cross-team collaboration, and clear accountability ensured momentum was maintained. Long-serving employees contributed valuable insights, while newer staff introduced fresh perspectives. Over time, this approach embedded a culture where everyone felt empowered to contribute, and incremental innovation became part of the organisational norm.

Sutherland Shire Council

At Sutherland Shire Council, continuous improvement has been a strategic priority, strongly championed by the CEO and embedded through the leadership team’s approach to organisational development.

Recognising that innovation is often overlooked in environments with long-tenured staff, leaders have taken a respectful and inclusive approach. They actively acknowledge the deep organisational knowledge of experienced employees and leverage their expertise to improve workflows, strengthen ways of working, and support transitions into more contemporary roles.

This approach balances respect for the organisation’s history with a clear focus on the future, ensuring staff feel valued while adapting to evolving expectations and opportunities. At the same time, the leadership team has remained committed to strengthening the fundamentals, clarifying processes, building capability, and creating the conditions necessary for sustainable, long-term improvement across the organisation.