Are we about to enter a new era of public management? There are good reasons to think that this may be the case. Continue reading “Public Value – the next ‘Big Thing’ in public management?”
Month: February 2009
Hard Times for Public Services
Whoever is in power at Westminster, public services are facing hard times over the next few years. Continue reading “Hard Times for Public Services”
Sir Fred Goodwin’s Pension: Pay for Performance?
One thing that the current financial crisis ought to do is raise a serious debate amongst public policy makers about pay for performance – in the private and public sectors. Continue reading “Sir Fred Goodwin’s Pension: Pay for Performance?”
Caring for Carers?
There are about 6m unpaid carers in the UK, of whom 883,000 receive about £2bn a year in support – in benefits and employment support – from the government. But they contribute the equivalent of £23bn in unpaid caring to society, according to a new NAO study. Continue reading “Caring for Carers?”
Recruiting civil servants efficiently?
One the NAO’s latest reports points to a small but significant area of inefficiency in Whitehall – recruitment: Continue reading “Recruiting civil servants efficiently?”
‘Made to Stick’ – how to make your key messages memorable
This book looks at what makes ideas “stick” – why some ideas spread easily whilst others don’t.
Being able to communicate effectively has become increasingly important for public managers in democratic states. “A medium-sized ‘butter’ popcorn at a typical neighborhood movie theatre contains more artery-clogging fat than a bacon-and-eggs breakfast, a Big Mac and fries lunch, and a steak dinner – combined!” Continue reading “‘Made to Stick’ – how to make your key messages memorable”
So What Would You Do?
In December I appeared as a witness before two Select Committees in the Westminster parliament: the Treasury Committee (TSC) which was responding to the government’s Pre-Budget Report; and the Public Administration Committee (PASC) which was investigating what standards of ‘good government’ might look like. Continue reading “So What Would You Do?”
NUDGE – influential book points to new policy directions?
The influential new book “Nudge” (Thaler and Sunstein 2008) comes from the emerging field of behavioral economics, which investigates the non-rational ways in which people make decisions. Continue reading “NUDGE – influential book points to new policy directions?”
The Art of Performance
The major first report by the UK’s latest ‘think tank’, the Institute for Government led by well-known and outspoken former Permanent Secretary Sir Michael Bichard, bodes well for the future of the new body. It is a serious, measured and balanced account of many of the achievements and problems experienced in the UK. Continue reading “The Art of Performance”
Capable in a Crisis?
Sir Gus O’Donnell, head of the UK civil service, in a recent speech outlined why he thought the British civil service would perform well in the current financial and economic crisis. In an article – “Mandarin-tinted glasses” – published in Public Finance magazine, I ask questions just how well Whitehall is really doing – based on their reports of their performance. Continue reading “Capable in a Crisis?”
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