Harnessing Collective Intelligence for Public Sector Innovation: Mission-Oriented Innovation in Action

This teaching case explores how mission-oriented innovation enables Innov’Agency, the national innovation agency of a Nordic country, to rethink the government’s role in addressing complex societal challenges that no single institution can resolve independently. It examines how Innov’Agency applies systems thinking, adaptive leadership, and collective intelligence to convene actors, co-create and prototype solutions, and catalyze urban mobility transformation. The central dilemma is whether this innovative, collaborative approach can overcome the entrenched silos in food systems. Can public agencies drive systemic change in fragmented and deeply rooted areas such as food? Through this case, graduate master’s-level students as well as professionals and executives will critically appraise how public institutions design and lead missions that balance environmental sustainability, public health, and social equity. In addition, a role-play will teach them to identify levers for system change, manage multi-stakeholder dynamics, and navigate uncertainty through experimentation and collaboration.