Handbook aims to unleash innovation at Southern DHB

Handbook aims to unleash innovation at Southern DHB

So you have a great idea at work – how do you bring it to reality?

A handbook that takes people from ideas to “involvement, innovation and inspiration” is to be launched at the Southern DHB’s Southland, Dunedin, Wakari and Lakes District Hospitals on Monday.

Produced in partnership with Otago Polytechnic, I’ve got an Idea But… shares insights, case studies and tools to help staff progress an idea, and offers advice for managers in supporting them.

It even includes a “ticket to innovate”, offering the bearer total backing to innovate within their organisation. “If they understand a problem, are open to feedback, and can reassure us that risks are manageable, they should go forth and innovate,” says Southern DHB Director of Performance, Cherie McConville.

The launch of the guide comes as the Southern DHB focuses on its organisational culture, as part of its long-term development plan, ‘Owning our Future’. This includes the Southern Future programme, calling upon patients, families and staff to share their views about the DHB they would like to see in the future.

“We believe that if Southern DHB is to be truly successful, our organisation must innovate. We need to create and nurture an environment of sharing ideas, breaking away from the status quo, and using that change to our advantage. It is therefore our mission to establish and sustain a culture of innovation across the health sector,” Ms McConville says.

“The handbook builds on other initiatives such as our Innovation Awards to create an environment where generating and nurturing ideas is ‘how we do things around here’. Our hope is that the more staff understand this, the more empowered they feel to innovate. We know there is no shortage of great ideas!”

I’ve Got an Idea But… is a collaborative effort by Viv Allen-Kelly, Noelle Bennett and Cherie McConville from the Southern DHB, and Peter Harris, Hannah Sinclair, Veronica Stevenson and Victoria Griffin from Otago Polytechnic.

ENDS

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