As Francis Maude prepares to stand down as an MP, what legacy does he leave behind after five years as Cabinet Office minister?

Ben Yong and Robert Hazell's book on special advisers is a 'must read' for ministers,  spads and civil servants, says former cabinet secretary Lord O'Donnell

The next government will face difficult choices over cuts – and it won’t find the answers in a traditional spending review

A monthly interview with people who’ve crossed organisational and sectoral boundaries to join a new working world. Michael Anderson moved from the Cabinet Office to the philanthropic organisation the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation 

In spite of its negativity, John Seddon’s analysis should make Whitehall sit up and take notice, says Labour MP Barry Sheerman

Organisations have forgotten the value of authenticity – so let’s make 2015 the year to get real

The PCS general secretary on why his union is facing its greatest challenge yet

If at first you don’t succeed… maybe trying and trying again is actually not such a great idea

The proposed cap on public sector redundancy payments is just the latest example of politicians jumping on the ‘fat cat’ bandwagon

CSW asked Conservative MP and former minister Alistair Burt to appraise the UK civil service 

CSW asked Lib Dem MP and former transport and home office minister Norman Baker to appraise the UK civil service 

I’ve loved running the national forest company – but the civil service is a tough environment for small delivery agencies

Why are select committees so rude? Yes, they must challenge witnesses – but there’s no need to be disrespectful

“I pushed through the tuition fees reforms”

The public sector is hurting – particularly civil servants. The government must act before the damage is irreparable

“I blew the whistle on the CQC’s failings”

Don’t fall for the accepted wisdom. The real story of the coalition lies in the hard data

Senior officials are often wary of social media – but new ways of reaching out can help boost your contacts & expertise

A Defence Intelligence insider trots through the agency’s 50-year history

Diabetes is a deadly disease and it is spreading fast. Christel Schaldemose explains why the EU must act now.

Improving Europe’s railway systems would lead to substantial economic and environmental benefits, argues Izaskun Bilbao Barandica.

Poor delivery explains some risk management failures, but there’s a bigger problem: the model has a fatal blind spot

It's easier to sidestep 'wicked problems' than to fix them - but stepping sidewalks brings us no closer to our goals