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Cross-government collaboration: lessons from R&D

• Posted on February 16, 2018 by Sian Jones

  Life-saving drugs, step-changes in energy efficiency, robots and amazing new materials that can transform our lives – these, and many scientific advances, are all the result of research and development (R&D). The UK funds £31.6 billion of R&D a year, and its success depends frequently on collaboration between a wide range of government departments, and with research councils, university bodies, businesses, charities and international organisations. As we look at the fascinating world of R&D, we can also learn much for all types of cross-government collaboration and coordination. more… Cross-government collaboration: lessons from R&D

  Tagged: Accountability, Brexit, Climate change, Cross-government, Digital transformation, Environmental sustainability, Good practice principles, Growth, Impacts, Information management, International, Leadership, Overseas aid, Process management, Project management, Research & development, Third sector, Universities

  5 Comments

Growth through devolution: A New Year’s outlook

• Posted on January 12, 2018 by Aileen Murphie

  A third of people living in England outside London live in one of England’s nine combined authorities, six being cities with directly elected mayors. Some commentators have expressed disappointment that the recent Secretary of State’s Annual Report on Devolution 2016-17 confirmed that there were no further devolution agreements in 2016-17. With combined authorities intended to be a key driver of local growth, should people, both in these regions and especially in areas without a combined authority, be clamouring for more action on devolution, or should we wait for clarity about the UK’s exit from the EU? What it will take for combined authorities to succeed in their aims? And do elected mayors have the potential to become significant figures on the national political stage? more… Growth through devolution: A New Year’s outlook

  Tagged: Access to services, Accountability, Brexit, Collaboration, Customer service, Devolution, Growth, Housing, Leadership, Local government, Police, Public sector reform

  5 Comments

EU exit: tough decisions and prioritisation needed

• Posted on November 30, 2017 by Amyas Morse

  “In light of the UK’s plans to leave the EU, the government should now prioritise the interests of the nation above those of Whitehall departments” said Sir Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General, speaking at the 23 November central government conference for members of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). Public Finance Magazine subsequently published an article by Sir Amyas, Deal with Brexit first, and has kindly allowed us to re-publish it here. more… EU exit: tough decisions and prioritisation needed

  Tagged: Amyas Morse, Brexit, Cross-government, Major projects, Project management, Public finances, Public sector reform

  3 Comments

Stretching civil servants’ capability

• Posted on July 20, 2017 by George Crockford

  The civil service is under pressure, as we found in our recent report Capability in the Civil Service. It has lost one in four civil servants since 2006 – with no reduction in workload, there’s a growing number of major projects to implement, greater public demand for services, new technologies – bringing both opportunities and threats, new ways of delivering public services, and action needed to leave the European Union. How can public sector organisations get or develop the people and skills they need? The first thing is: prioritise; it simply must do less. more… Stretching civil servants’ capability

  Tagged: Brexit, Business operations, Civil service capability, Contract management, Digital transformation, Leadership, Major projects, Project management, Risk management, Skills

  6 Comments

A flexible, engaged approach to efficient public services

• Posted on March 6, 2017 by Amyas Morse

  I was privileged to speak to The Strand Group at King’s College London in early February on some of the elements needed for government to successfully implement major change programmes in complex, interconnected systems. The examples on which I focused were local, adult social care and NHS services in light of devolution, fiscal restraint and Brexit. After my talk, I was asked many interesting questions, some of which I would like to explore in more detail in this post. [See here for the video and transcript.] more… A flexible, engaged approach to efficient public services

  Tagged: Amyas Morse, Brexit, Customer service, Devolution, Financial sustainability, Local government, Performance management, Public finances, Public sector reform

  2 Comments

The glue to managing change

• Posted on October 4, 2016 by Alec Steel

  “Change is the law of life”, as John F Kennedy said. The big question at present is, what changes will Brexit bring? What will it mean for government departments? For local authorities? For people using services? For businesses? For the way government works? Amidst all the unknowns, one certainty is that we need a civil service able to manage major change effectively – not only new change relating to Brexit, but all the existing transformation of public services. Drawing on the extensive experience of our Operations and Process Management Community of Practice we explore key lessons for managing change effectively. more… The glue to managing change

  Tagged: Amyas Morse, Brexit, Business operations, Change management, Cross-government, Customer service, Good practice principles, Information management, Leadership, Performance management, Process management, Skills

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The next 150 years

• Posted on June 30, 2016 by Amyas Morse

  I am honoured to be the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) in post on the 150^th anniversary of the role. Indeed, I was also here in 2014 for the 700^th anniversary of the first (documented) Auditor of the Exchequer. Since then, our country has fought a Civil War over the role of Parliament, including its powers to raise revenue and authorise expenditure, although Parliamentary control and scrutiny of public spending has mostly been weak through the centuries. Somewhat more recently, the country has voted for a historic decision to leave the European Union, which will usher in major changes for government, needing careful planning, implementation and evaluation. more… The next 150 years

  Tagged: Accountability, Amyas Morse, Brexit, C&AG 150th anniversary, European Union, Impacts

  7 Comments