United States
Zareh Sinanyan
206,283 (2019)
Elena Bolbolian
Improve internal government operations
Save costs and improve efficiency within the public sector
Simplify administrative procedures for firms and residents
Dedicated funding
Focus on measurement
Dedicated innovation team
Human resource support
Culture of innovation in city
Support from outside city administration
Leadership from Mayor
Glendale initially adopted its innovation strategy in response to the state of California’s 2012 elimination of local redevelopment agencies (in order to create efficiencies and maintain existing service levels with fewer resources). The Department of Innovation, Performance, and Audit (IPA) was created to institutionalize an innovation and data-based approach to governance. The IPA conducts targeted research and data analysis, runs pilot programs, and assesses city services using a human-centered design approach. The department also conducts audits to ensure transparency and accountability, and publishes data visualization dashboards of Key Performance Indicators on several topics including the city budget and Covid-19.
Along with 50% of cities surveyed, Glendale, CA has an explicit innovation strategy. Similar to more than half of cities surveyed, Glendale, CA approaches innovation capacity both from a holistic/macro level, as well as in specific policy areas.
Digital governance: Glendale's Innovation Team has focused on augmenting digital governance across City Hall. By collaborating with other departments, the team has been able to improve city services through new features such as digital signatures and automated fee calculators. The team has also championed a user-centered approach to the City's web presence, utilizing user research to help shape the form and function of police and fire recruitment websites.
Labor market and skills: The innovation team partnered with Glendale's Community Development Department, the Glendale Unified School District, and the International Code Council to create a program that connects interested high school talent with meaningful careers in the inspection industry. The program offers a pipeline of opportunity for these young students to achieve full-time employment as Building Inspectors without the need of a college degree. It also contributes to the tapestry of a larger succession planning strategy for the City by transferring vital knowledge to the next generation before it is lost.
As an independent department, Glendale’s Innovation, Performance and Audit team has 2 staff dedicated to innovation works.
Taking risks or testing new ideas
Data-driven analytics/public data management
Engaging residents in new ways
Developing new solutions based on digital technologies
Organizational change within the municipality
Human-centered design
Rethinking your city’s approach to financing partnerships
Like 81% of cities surveyed, Glendale, CA has dedicated funding to support innovation capacity.
Similar to 61% of participating cities in the 2020 survey, Glendale's funding for innovation capacity is also directed towards training staff and building capacity*.
*"Training staff and building capacity" is not an option in the 2018 survey, while "Launching or sustaining a project" is not an option in the 2020 survey.
Glendale has developed partnerships to promote innovation capacity with other public agencies, private firms, not-for-profit organisations, and city residents/resident associations.
To improve data use, the city has also developed data partnerships with the private sector, private philanthropy, academia and think tanks to collect and analyse data.