As a private sector executive, I find it an interesting notion that the public sector think continuous improvement should not be "business as usual".
Continuous improvement just a convenient label. Any professional, whether an engineer, doctor, lawyer or even a politician, should practice continuous improvement subconsciously - it merely means reducing waste, being more productive, having a responsible attitude to expenditure (in all it's forms).
The one thing with continuous improvement initiatives is that everyone needs to buy into the change...how many of us have seen something be "improved" by one person, only for another to "improve" it back again to what it was??!!!!!¬