Innovation is the hallmark
of successful organisations in the knowledge economy. Today, quality and
efficiency are no longer sufficient for sustaining competitiveness. To succeed,
organisations need to acquire the competencies for managing and sustaining
innovation.
The Singapore Innovation Class Programme, administered by the Standards Productivity and Innovation (SPRING) Board, provides organisations with a framework for achieving innovation excellence. Based on extensive international research, expert consultation and studies of renowned innovative organisations in the world, the Innovation Excellence Framework provides an excellence model that can be applied to any organisation, regardless of its uniqueness. It enables organisations to adopt a total approach to developing the conditions, culture, competencies and connectivity for sustaining innovation. The framework consists of four components, namely Conditions, Culture, Competencies and Connectivity. Organisations that attain more than 400 points in this framework receive the Innovation Class (I-Class) award.
The Singapore Prison Service was recognised as an I-Class organisation in April 2004.
The road to achieving this certification was not an easy one. Work started in November 2003 with the I-Class working committee writing the application report, creating awareness among officers and collating documents as evidence to support the content of the report. SPS also had to prepare for a site visit by the I-Class assessors in February 2004.
During the site visit, assessors visited the now-defunct Moon Crescent Prison and the new Cluster A of Changi Prison Complex (CPC), as they were interested to see how a penal institution operated. There, they viewed exhibits of innovative ideas by officers, such as the Internet Home Tele-visit, Quick Response Pack, Compartmentalised Van, Inmates’ Board Games, Foldable 3-D Housing Unit Model and Captain’s Eye. The assessors strongly suggested that SPS apply to patent these innovations. They also interviewed inmates who were members of a Work Improvement Team (WIT), and recommended that WITs Conventions be held for inmates from different institutions. At Cluster A, they were introduced to the innovative capabilities of CPC – the first of its kind in Asia.
Assessors also conducted interviews with staff to better understand how staff are aligned to SPS’ innovative vision and culture.
SPS has come out of this I-Class experience, more aware of our innovative capabilities and how to strengthen them by adopting the I-Class framework.