Journal of Management and Business Solutions 3092-7226 2 Serial Number 5 2024 01 01 Identifying the Barriers to Innovation in Public Sector Organizations: A Case Study of Healthcare Policy Implementation Identifying the Barriers to Innovation in Public Sector Organizations: A Case Study of Healthcare Policy Implementation 1 9 EN Journal Article 2023 11 12 <p>This study aims to identify and analyze the key barriers to innovation in public sector organizations, with a specific focus on healthcare policy implementation within Iran’s centralized public health system. A qualitative research design was employed using a case study approach centered in Tehran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 23 purposively selected participants, including healthcare policymakers, administrators, and frontline managers actively involved in policy implementation. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 software. Thematic analysis followed an inductive approach to coding and categorization, and peer debriefing and member checking were used to enhance validity and credibility. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) Structural and Bureaucratic Barriers, including centralized decision-making, rigid hierarchies, and inflexible procedures; (2) Cultural and Human Resource Challenges, such as risk-averse organizational culture, lack of innovation mindset, and leadership resistance; and (3) Policy and Systemic Constraints, including political interference, fragmented accountability, and underutilization of data. Participants emphasized the implementation gap between policy design and practice, the lack of innovation-related performance metrics, and limited stakeholder engagement. The barriers were found to be interrelated, reinforcing a cycle of stagnation that undermines innovative efforts. Innovation in public healthcare policy implementation is hindered by entrenched structural, cultural, and systemic constraints. Addressing these barriers requires decentralizing authority, fostering a supportive innovation culture, enhancing employee skills, and reforming policy processes to be more inclusive, data-informed, and adaptive. The findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, managers, and reform advocates seeking to foster innovation in similar public sector contexts.</p> https://journalmbs.com/index.php/jmbs/article/download/32/27