Cities find new ways to de-risk experimentation
Experimentation has long played a key role in city innovation, helping leaders better understand residents' needs and assess whether new solutions can effectively meet them. But testing new ideas in government is not always easy. Concerns about liability, public expectations, and limited resources can make it difficult to try something new, even when the need is clear.
As cities manage growing demands and tighter budgets, some are finding new ways to reduce the risks associated with experimentation. The goal is to make it more practical, more affordable, and more likely to lead to action.
This is what building a culture of innovation looks like
At first glance, the scene playing out last spring inside a conference room in Port St. Lucie, Fla., might have resembled a routine exercise in human-centered design. Civil servants pored over resident feedback, crafted and refined takeaways about where the city was succeeding and where it was falling short, and brainstormed new ideas. In doing so, Port St. Lucie leaders are acting on the recognition that innovation can't be confined to standalone teams or labs if cities are to deliver the efficiency and responsiveness residents expect.
