Making Government Work report Articles
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‘A culture of saying no is not acceptable’: New Zealand minister plans public service reform
Judith Collins, the new public service minister in New Zealand, has called on public servants to “say yes” to help drive reform and implement the government’s agenda. In a major speech following her appointment as public service minister last month, Collins said it was essential that public servants deliver results in government “in a fast-changing…
Global Government Summit brings together civil service leaders to address biggest challenges
This week’s Global Government Summit in Singapore will bring together senior civil service leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges – and solutions – to the issues facing governments in the 21st century. The annual summit taking place on 21 and 22 January will focus on key issues such as how to realise…
OECD identifies five key government innovation trends
A study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has identified five key trends where governments have innovated in 2024 – from co-creating public services with users to making progress on using data to inform better decision-making. The Global Trends in Government Innovation 2024 report examines nearly 800 case studies from 83 countries…
New UK civil service chief to help implement mission-driven government as Simon Case announces departure
The UK government has set out the key responsibilities of the next cabinet secretary after Simon Case announced that he will step down from the role at the end of the year. In an announcement to civil servants yesterday, Case said that he had informed the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer that he will step…
Exclusive Global Government Forum research reveals five pillars of a modern civil service
Global Government Forum research has revealed the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust. The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report is the result of interviews with 12 senior civil service leaders from…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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