Assessment of innovation capabilities in selected government organisations in UAE

Abstract

This research aims to develop an innovation maturity model for government organisations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and seeks to explore the current challenges facing the UAE government in innovation. The UAE government currently does not have a unified way to measure innovation but rather the use of international excellence models and international standards which are more suited for the private sector. The research was conducted using a qualitative method, gathering data from different governmental sectors in the UAE, such as health, space, technology, education, water, energy, and transportation. The data sources of this research included semi-structured interviews, document reviews, and observations. The researcher interviewed 24 participants several times, analysed 43 public and private documents, and conducted 2 observations. The data that was transcribed and analysed thematically resulted in constructing a model called the “Government Innovation Capability Maturity Model” that has eight dimensions (Strategy, Leadership, Culture, Collaboration, KM, System, HR, and Finance), implemented in seven organisations and validated by four experts in government innovation through three rounds of the Delphi method. The analysed data also identified challenges in innovation for the UAE government in nine areas: strategy, HR, culture, collaboration, R&D, process, financing, marketing, and innovation concept. The research contributed to the theory by closing the gap of limited studies of UAE innovation, and practical contribution by designing an innovation maturity models for government organisations to use. COVID-19 and geographical constraints were some of the limitations of this research but were overcome by gathering the data through online methods such as Zoom© and Google Meet©. Finally, its recommended for future research to further analyse and empirically test the eight dimensions and their relations within the UAE and other countries in the region.