The MINDEF Innovation Programme

A Report on the Strategies
that Built an Innovative Ministry of Defence, Singapore,
and the Singapore Armed Forces, 2002 to 2007

Abstract

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has long been recognised as a forward looking agency that leads change in the public sector. In 2001, the Ministry decided to embark on her biggest transformation to meet the demands of the 3rd Generation Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) or the ‘3G SAF’. The Ministry had identified innovation as the key enabler in this transformation and aggressively pursuit its application to achieve her new goal. The MINDEF Innovation and Transformation Office and the MINDEF Innovation Programme were conceived to realise this single objective.

In three phases, the programme uncovered the big picture, searched for the missing pieces, and prescribed the key approaches for change in an organisation of about 60,000 strong. The programme was able to identify the propensity to innovate in the way the Ministry organised, managed and renewed herself, and used these as leverages to initiate and manage the change in a planned fashion through ‘Jumpstart’. The change was strategically driven at the top but left significant space at the ground for emergent innovations to reach the support structures created by the Innovation Resourcing Framework called ‘RACE’.

This report is a record of the activities that had taken place between 2002 and 2007, during which the programme was been executed by the author.

Only all figures presented in this report are falsified to protect the organisation.

Afternote

Throughout 2001 to 2007, I have been challenged by many people from different quarters of the organisation on the science behind the MINDEF Innovation Programme and its abilities in delivering the intended outcomes.

This effort has recently been validated by my lecturer:

Dr Deanna De Silwa, Department of Education, Monash University, wrote:

"This is an extremely well executed strategic plan to implement and filtrate innovation within an organisation. It is extremely pleasing to see that you have integrated a wide range of literature on leadership and innovation with the practical issues of the defence force context."

This report was 1st created on 1 May 2008.

Copyright 2008. Anthony Mok. All Rights Reserved.