Diagnóstico da Inovação no Ministério Público do Estado do Tocantins/TO

Abstract

In recent years, the Brazilian public sector has increasingly invested in innovation to improve the quality of services provided to the population. Various initiatives have been developed, such as the creation of innovation labs, which seek innovative solutions to the challenges faced by the public sector. Innovation can be an important input for the improvement of public policies. In this regard, the Public Prosecutor's Office of Tocantins created in 2022, the Innovation Lab of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Tocantins (SALTO) to encourage research and innovation within the MPTO, aiming to develop innovative initiatives, demonstrating that the agency is turning its attention to this issue. Thus, this research has the general objective of diagnosing and mapping innovation within the Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Tocantins, focusing on the impact of innovative practices adopted by the agency, directed towards its members, employees, and Tocantins society. Three specific objectives were listed: 1) To discuss the concept of innovation in the public sector, especially its appropriation by the Public Prosecutor's Office; 2) To identify incentives for technological innovation within the Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Tocantins; and 3) To identify barriers to technological innovation within the Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Tocantins. This research is relevant because it allows a better understanding of the current innovation scenario within the Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Tocantins, identifying the main challenges and opportunities for the development of new solutions and services. With this, it is expected to contribute to the improvement of the agency's work and to the strengthening of judicial services provided to Tocantins citizens, as well as the general population. It is also important to highlight that this research contributes to the advancement of academic research on innovation labs, as mapping the culture of innovation in a public organization like the MPTO can provide valuable information to understand how innovation is developed in other public organizations and how innovation labs can be structured to promote a culture of innovation. Interviews were conducted with 15 employees of the institution, whose content was analyzed using Bardin's content analysis techniques, supported by the R software, with cluster analysis, dendrogram, and dictionary of the most frequent terms being performed. Various incentives and innovative initiatives implemented by the institution were identified, aiming to improve its operational efficiency, access to justice, transparency, and institutional integrity. Among the main barriers identified were resistance to change by members and employees of the institution, as well as the presence of an organizational structure characterized by bureaucracy and rigidity. These barriers hinder the implementation of new practices and technologies, limiting the agency's capacity for innovation. Recognizing these barriers is essential for the development of strategies to overcome them and promote a more effective culture of innovation. These results contribute to a broader understanding of the innovation scenario within the MPTO, offering relevant insights for the continuous improvement of innovative practices and the strengthening of the Public Prosecutor's Office's role as an agent of change and promoter of justice in the state of Tocantins.