Principles of Reinvention
The Principles of Reinvention is a framework for organizational change developed by David Osborne and Ted Gaebler in their 1992 book, "Reinventing Government: How the Entrepreneurial Spirit is Transforming the Public Sector." The book became a best-seller and influenced the public sector reform movement. The book focuses on the idea that government institutions can and should operate more like businesses, focusing on results and efficiency.
The Principles of Reinvention are as follows:
- Catalytic Government: Instead of providing direct services, the government should facilitate and support the efforts of private businesses and nonprofit organizations to address public needs.
- Competitive Government: Government agencies should be more competitive and operate like private businesses to deliver better services and greater value to citizens.
- Mission-Driven Government: The government should focus on its core mission and responsibilities and be accountable for results.
- Customer-Driven Government: The government should be more responsive to the needs of citizens and customers and provide services that are accessible, convenient, and effective.
- Enterprising Government: The government should be entrepreneurial, innovative, and willing to take risks to achieve its goals.
- Results-Oriented Government: The government should be focused on achieving measurable results and outcomes and be held accountable for its performance.
- Decentralized Government: The government should be decentralized, with decision-making authority and responsibility distributed as far down the organizational chain as possible.
These principles are intended to guide the transformation of government institutions to be more efficient, effective, and responsive to the needs of citizens. They have been influential in the field of public administration and have been used as a framework for government reform efforts around the world. They have also been applied to the private sector, where they are seen as a way to create a more entrepreneurial and innovative corporate culture.