Outcome delivery plans: third time lucky?
01 Apr Civil Service Reform

Outcome delivery plans: third time lucky?

The new approach to departmental planning can only really succeed if the Government can define properly what its small number of priority goals are.
by Martin Wheatley
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
14 Apr Civil Service Reform
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
13 Apr Civil Service Reform
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
Opinion: Let’s abolish the spending review
12 Apr Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Let’s abolish the spending review
Colin Talbot: How public servants can make the machine work for them
09 Apr Civil Service Reform
Colin Talbot: How public servants can make the machine work for them
In the first of a new series of articles exploring developments in public sector management, Colin Talbot looks at how one social care organisation is challenging the assumptions of service delivery
Opinion: How to make the integrated review really integrated
31 Mar Security & Defence
Opinion: How to make the integrated review really integrated
The government’s Integrated Review covers everything from bombs to biodiversity, but such a wide remit requires government to think about how it will collaborate with industry and academia, says Dr Simon Harwood, the director of defence and security, Cranfield University
How civil servants can prepare for the Covid decade
30 Mar Coronavirus
How civil servants can prepare for the Covid decade
The challenges of the UK’s recovery from the pandemic will take years to sort out. A new report from the British Academy sets out some of the things policymakers need to think about to prepare
‘Sound priorities, undermined by a narrow view of security and aid cuts’: assessing the integrated review
26 Mar Security & Defence
‘Sound priorities, undermined by a narrow view of security and aid cuts’: assessing the integrated review
The government’s landmark foreign and defence policy review arrived at many of the right conclusions, but UK security could be undermined by a focus on competition when the UK’s leadership could make a bigger difference through cooperation, says Ian Mitchell, the co-director, Europe for the Center for Global Development
Make Net Zero a primary objective of all public sector investments, not just a nice-to-have Sponsored
05 Mar Operational Delivery
Make Net Zero a primary objective of all public sector investments, not just a nice-to-have
In last week’s Budget, the Chancellor announced £15bn in green bonds to help finance the transition to ‘Net Zero’ by 2050. PA Consulting asks: is this sufficient?
Opinion: DWP should ditch language of welfare and embrace social security
02 Mar Economy
Opinion: DWP should ditch language of welfare and embrace social security
Coronavirus has revealed the extent to which the country relies on the Department for Work and Pensions. Government should harness this to create a system that meets the challenges from a post-pandemic economy
Lucille Thirlby: the SCS needs more than words on pay reform
26 Feb HR
Lucille Thirlby: the SCS needs more than words on pay reform
Ministers know what is required to fix churn but the pace of change is beyond glacial, argues the FDA's assistant general secretary
Opinion: How government can help make Aria sing
23 Feb
Opinion: How government can help make Aria sing
The government’s new research agency needs the freedom to set its own mission, says former Downing Street adviser Daniel Korski
‘Recognise the opportunity’: departments urged to use procurement to build social value
22 Feb Commercial
‘Recognise the opportunity’: departments urged to use procurement to build social value
Central government departments and other public sector bodies can use their procurement powers to help build social value. Charlene Maginnis from the Crown Commercial Service sets out some tips on how to go about it
Dave Penman: Why the FDA launched a judicial review over PM’s support for Patel
22 Feb HR
Dave Penman: Why the FDA launched a judicial review over PM’s support for Patel
Boris Johnson’s backing for the home secretary despite evidence of bullying means ministers now have to meet a lower standard of conduct than civil servants. This can’t go unchallenged
Dave Penman: Lessons from HMRC’s groundbreaking pay deal
12 Feb HR
Dave Penman: Lessons from HMRC’s groundbreaking pay deal
The new pay package from HMRC shows a department that is setting the pace in pay and reward for civil servants. Other departments should hurry to catch up
Levelling up: the public perspective, region by region Sponsored
05 Feb Culture
Levelling up: the public perspective, region by region
The annual State of the State report has revealed regional differences in attitudes towards the Levelling Up agenda. Government must work with local areas to get the best results, writes Ed Roddis, director of Public Sector Research at Deloitte.
Opinion: What government cuts to the overseas aid budget mean for Global Britain
27 Jan Brexit
Opinion: What government cuts to the overseas aid budget mean for Global Britain
Dr Philip A. Berry and Dr Joe Devanny argue that Boris Johnson has overturned 15 years of Conservative Party policy on development aid and, in the process, has moved towards a narrower, meaner vision of ‘Global Britain’.
Opinion: What Covid revealed about government’s legacy IT, and what to do next
26 Jan Coronavirus
Opinion: What Covid revealed about government’s legacy IT, and what to do next
The coronavirus pandemic pressed unprecedented stress on government’s technology systems. Many parts of the system coped well, but it also revealed problems that must be addressed to avoid future crisis, says Reform's director of research, Eleonora Harwich
Dave Penman: There’s huge demand from civil servants for greater flexible working. Departments should help make it happen
12 Jan HR
Dave Penman: There’s huge demand from civil servants for greater flexible working. Departments should help make it happen
FDA research reveals many civil servants want to hold on to home working even after the coronavirus emergency. Ministers must catch up to where their workforce is
Less ‘just in time’, more ‘just in case’: How government can be a better customer when the next crisis hits
16 Dec 2020 Commercial
Less ‘just in time’, more ‘just in case’: How government can be a better customer when the next crisis hits
There have been some government procurement successes during Covid-19, but there are also many lessons to be learned, says Aidan Shilson-Thomas, a senior researcher at the think-tank Reform
Opinion: There is evidence of workplace bias in the civil service – we need some way of addressing that
16 Dec 2020 HR
Opinion: There is evidence of workplace bias in the civil service – we need some way of addressing that
If the government is determined to eliminate discrimination in the workplace, then it’s time we saw the evidence, says Prospect’s Garry Graham
Opinion: Civil service relocations should not be driven by “levelling up”
30 Nov 2020 Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Civil service relocations should not be driven by “levelling up”
As possible moves for government departments hit the headlines again, Sarah Nickson from the Institute for Government says decisions should be made based on the skills a location can offer, not based on things like whether it voted to leave the EU.
Populists in power: the impact on public administration
30 Nov 2020 Leadership
Populists in power: the impact on public administration
Academics are studying the impact of populists in power. Colin Talbot looks at the research and whether it can provide a perspective of Whitehall’s churn of top jobs
Spending Review 2020: Do outcomes for departments point to a new way of measuring performance?
27 Nov 2020 Finance
Spending Review 2020: Do outcomes for departments point to a new way of measuring performance?
New frameworks and metrics to judge how well departments work could form the building blocks of a reformed approach to managing public spending, but more detail is needed, says Martin Wheatley
Opinion: Sunak’s pay freeze adds insult to injury
26 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Opinion: Sunak’s pay freeze adds insult to injury
Government claims on the generosity of public sector earnings mean it really is time for an independent pay-review body, says Prospect’s Garry Graham
‘We have a moral vacuum at the heart of government’: Dave Penman on the PM’s Patel decision
23 Nov 2020
‘We have a moral vacuum at the heart of government’: Dave Penman on the PM’s Patel decision
Pledges by Boris Johnson about tackling bullying in the future are not only hollow but insulting following last week’s events, says the FDA general secretary
Opinion: rethinking public services in a time of Covid-19
20 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Opinion: rethinking public services in a time of Covid-19
Public services are facing a unforeseen and mammoth challenge in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, changing demands for users also create a challenge to create more user-centred services, say Dr Edwina Yida Zhu, Prof Stephen P. Osborne, and Dr Kirsty Strokosch, of the University of Edinburgh.
Calling Champions: right now, kindness matters most Sponsored
18 Nov 2020 Health & Social Care
Calling Champions: right now, kindness matters most
To help us help more civil servants, we’re recruiting The Champions. There are no hoops to jump through, writes Marie McNeil from The Charity for Civil Servants