Public Forum Explores 'Innovating Policies : A New Paradigm of Governance to Activate the Governments' Potential'

A public forum entitled "Innovating Policies: A New Paradigm of Governance to Activate the Governments' Potential" was held March 27 2015 in Tokyo at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies by that institute and the JICA Research Institute.

The purpose of the forum was for leading experts from the participating countries to gather and present the results of their research while searching for the practical wisdom needed to promote the problem-solving capacity of national and local governments.

Nonaka said a three-dimensional model, where knowledge is put into practice in a nation: nation, region and community, is needed in public sector management. A good Phronetic leader in practical wisdom is one who can 1) judge goodness and set good objectives, 2) create shared contexts, 3) grasp the essence of particular situations, 4) communicate the essence in a way that everyone can understand, 5) exercise the political power to implement them and 6) foster practical wisdom in others. And such a Phronetic leader should work to put knowledge into practice, Nonaka said. In addition, he said a policy is about co-creating the future and management as a way of life, and public management involves a variety of stakeholders and requires the encouragement of cooperation and coordination.

Alex Brillantes, Commissioner of Higher Education, the Philippines, gave the second keynote presentation. He presented the outcome of two years of research, focusing on leadership and management for speeding up policy innovation.

After the keynote presentations, a panel discussion was held entitled "Reform for Efficiency or Innovation? Overview of Administrative Reform in Asia." Cayetano Paderanga, chairman, Development Academy of the Philippines, talked about reform of the public servant training system in his country. Eko Prasojo, a professor at the University of Indonesia, gave a presentation on examples of administrative reform. Thereafter, Atsuko Kikuchi, the president of the Japan Association for Public Human Resources Development, explained reform of Japan's system of government employment, and a lively exchange of opinions and question and answer session took place.

JICA-RI and GRIPS will continue to compile the research results of participating countries, which is to be published in a book.