The marathon effort to put on the greatest show in the world almost hit the skids when security firm G4S failed to deliver on its promises. Joshua Chambers explores the lessons for contract management and major projects

A plea for sensible policy-making – and more cash

A paediatric epilepsy nurse reveals her worries about job cuts and the power of managers over clinicians.

The civil service has long experience of turning political ends into policy means, finding safe routes for the ship of state; but now the government wants it to use a new set of navigation tools. Joshua Chambers takes soundings.

Former crown rep chief Bill Crothers, Whitehall’s new procurement boss, is bringing together the government’s buyers and its commercial leads. Matt Ross asks him how he’ll cut spending and rejuvenate procurement reform

Twice before, the Public Administration Select Committee has called for reforms to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments – but to little avail. Now it’s having another go: Colin Marrs reports on its latest assault.

Cafcass once helped kids by resolving parental disputes, says one staffer. But now it’s all targets and pointless protection work.

The Ministry of Defence says it’s balanced its budget, and can now afford to honour all its spending commitments. But as Joshua Chambers reports, this has come at a cost both to personnel and to equipment programmes.

The Ministry of Defence wants its staff to use social media – but there’s always a danger that unguarded use will create a security risk. Suzannah Brecknell reports on how the MoD can both have its virtual cake, and eat it.

For Foreign Office chief Simon Fraser, his relationships around Whitehall are as crucial as those with Washington. His main mission is to increase trade, he tells Matt Ross, and that means working with a host of other departments

Across government, information technology and procurement professionals are contemplating a dramatic shift in the way IT services are managed. Mark Smulian listens in at a round table on the concept of ‘tower services’

Pitched against the transport department and the train and bus companies, public transport users can get a raw deal. Stuart Watson meets the Passenger Focus chief, who stands up for travellers in departments and boardrooms

Soon after the 2010 election, the coalition beefed up departmental boards and recruited a set of powerful non-executive directors. Joshua Chambers meets Lord Browne, the ‘lead NED’ reforming Whitehall from the inside

Having toured Whitehall applying her unique brand of troubleshooting to various social issues, Louise Casey is now leading a flagship payment-by-results scheme involving all her former employers. Joshua Chambers meets her

Forged in the struggle between pragmatic reformers and small-state radicals, the Civil Service Reform Plan has now emerged. Matt Ross sets out the key goals, and gathers explanations from the plan’s three main architects

A housing officer explains how the affordable homes shortage makes her job harder, and why she’s not looking forward to the arrival of Universal Credits

The Civil Service Reform Plan encourages civil servants to move between departments and out of government, giving themselves the breadth of experience to excel. Joshua Chambers and Suzannah Brecknell report

The NHS has improved in recent years, says a midwife – but there are big risks within the next wave of reforms

Heywood and Richard Heaton set out the challenges facing the UK economy. Joshua Chambers reports

The coalition’s plans for energy markets put the government centre stage, with a key role in setting prices. Stuart Watson explains the pressures on this key area of policymaking, and examines the energy department’s plans

Does the quality of your work make your time more valuable than that of your peers? Four top officials gave their thoughts on performance-related pay during a panel discussion. Suzannah Brecknell was listening

The number of HR workers has shrunk by over a third in three years. But while HR departments haven’t enjoyed distributing P45s to their own staff, managers are proud that service quality hasn’t suffered. Colin Marrs reports.

The government’s tax collectors have for years occupied the bottom slot in the civil service’s staff morale rankings. Colin Marrs learned how managers have changed tack in order to tackle deep-seated problems

In an increasingly open society, even MI6 has to change the way it operates – and at Civil Service Live, the Secret Intelligence Service’s head Sir John Sawers made a rare public appearance. Joshua Chambers reports