Performance Management Articles
NEED MINI SPONSOR LOGO
UK announces civil service reforms to ‘move fast and fix things’
Darren Jones, chief secretary to the UK prime minister, has announced a series of civil service reforms designed to meet the government’s ambition of “a complete rewiring of the state”. These include delivery-focused performance management measures for senior civil servants, the creation of task forces for government priorities, and a new national school of government.…
US Office of Personnel Management sets out federal workforce reforms to build ‘high-performance culture’
The US government has set out the pillars of a revised performance management regime for civil servants with the aim of building a “culture of excellence” in the federal workforce. The memorandum for performance management for federal employees is intended to meet the priorities that US President Donald Trump has set to establish what it…
‘It’s a wonder anything gets done’: UK government pledges to rewire Treasury to streamline financial reporting
The UK government has set out plans to overhaul how it uses data to measure performance as part of plans to improve efficiency. Chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, said the plans to transform and upgrade the government’s central finance system would also help improve the timeliness and accuracy of data used to inform decision-making…
US agencies tasked with annual diversity reporting in new Biden order
President Biden has signed a new executive order aimed at removing the multiple workplace barriers faced by US federal employees from disadvantaged communities, with the aspiration of turning government administration into a “model” for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility [DEIA]. The order calls on federal departments and agencies – collectively the largest employer in the…
Capability-based pay to be introduced under UK civil service reform plans
All senior appointments to the UK civil service will be open to public competition and capability-based pay will be introduced, under the government’s new reform programme announced today. Alongside transforming the recruitment and management of senior civil servants (SCS), the Declaration on Government Reform outlines a host of other actions – including relocating 22,000 civil…
A new breed of public servants: skills and staffing after the pandemic
Civil servants have broken new ground during the COVID-19 pandemic – using hackathons, scientific advisory groups and private sector volunteers to shape policy and deliver services, for example. But at the Global Government Summit, it became clear that these innovations may be dwarfed by the changes to come. Matt Ross listens in as leaders debate…
Trump moves to extend hire-and-fire powers over civil service
Donald Trump issued an executive order last week that could remove employment protection rights for tens of thousands of federal employees, giving the president powers to hire and fire a far greater proportion of the civil service workforce. The order, which was issued on Wednesday evening, aims to create a new class of federal employee,…
India embarks on landmark civil service capacity-building reform
The Indian government has unveiled a major reform programme that will radically reshape the way civil servants are trained and developed and create what the country’s home minister described as a “new work culture”. The Union Cabinet, the supreme decision-making body in India, approved the reform programme – called ‘Mission Karmayogi’ or the National Programme for…
Performance Management Events, Conferences & Summits - In-Person
Performance Management Webinars
Performance Management Research
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)
Performance Management Training Courses
Partnerships
Partner with us to connect with senior government leaders, policymakers, public sector professionals and the organisations shaping the future of AI in public services.
Our partnership opportunities are designed to facilitate meaningful collaboration, knowledge sharing and engagement across the public sector. Whether you are a government department, local authority, public body or industry organisation, we help you share expertise, showcase innovation and contribute to the responsible adoption of AI across public services.
Join the Performance Management Community
Be part of the growing community shaping the future of AI across government and the public sector.
Sign up to receive the latest AI news, research, events, webinars and practical insights from GGF and our partners. You'll be the first to hear about new reports, conferences, networking opportunities and thought leadership from government and industry experts.
Latest News
