Page 112 - UKZN MIMI Report 2025

4.3 Construct C: Individual Innovation behaviour
This section presents results for Construct C of MIMI: Individual Innovation Behaviour. Table 4 displays the scores for Construct C for the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in comparison to the national average. The average score for eThekwini was 3, in contrast to the national average of 2. The municipality scored 3 in openness to new ideas, encour- agement of learning, understanding of innovation processes, support for innovation testing and communication by management in support of innovation.
Table 106. Construct C: Individual innovation behaviour
4.4 MIMI Maturity Level for the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
Table 5 shows the MIMI Maturity Level for the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The municipality obtained an Innovation Maturity Level of 3. At Maturity Level 3, according to the MIMI framework, innovation in this municipality is applied, with evidence of its implementation in specific departments. Although innovation occurs, it remains irreg- ular and not yet fully embedded. At Maturity Level 3, the municipality demonstrates awareness and understanding of innovation through applied processes, established rules and procedures, and performance measurements. It has allocated human, infrastructural, and financial resources to support innovation. There is evidence of collaboration and the flow of ideas; officials are actively involved in innovation activities. Technology projects are tested and pilot- ed, indicating a proactive approach to identifying innovative solutions. The municipality applies some systems and business processes to record, store, and retrieve knowledge. Evidence shows that this knowledge is used to develop new practices and improve service delivery. Innovation receives support at certain leadership levels, further enabling its integration into municipal operations. The municipality somehow understands and actively looks for innovative solutions. The municipality has a few systems and business processes to record, store and retrieve knowledge.
Table 107. MIMI Maturity Levels in eThekwini Metropolitan
Table 6 presents the MIMI Maturity Levels across all participating municipalities.
5. Conclusion
The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality scored an average maturity level of 3. Innovation is defined and understood, and is evident in the operations of the municipalities. Furthermore, there is evidence that new strategies are being tried and tested. The municipality should aim to improve on all the items in which it scored less than 3 in order to enhance its capabilities in supporting innovation.
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MUNICIPAL INNOVATION MATURITY INDEX (MIMI)