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‘Many organisations will have to start to look at this’: how to make shared services work in the public sector
The UK government is working on developing shared services across the public sector to help save money and provide more integrated services. A Global Government Forum webinar looked at what has been achieved so far, and how to unlock further progress The UK government is facing a difficult financial climate, with departments having to continue…
Canada’s former digital chief to lead on government ID verification at US university
Aaron Snow, who stepped down as Canadian Digital Service (CDS) CEO last month, has taken up the role of faculty fellow at Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation. He will lead the center’s State Software Collaborative, which facilitates the cooperative development of software for use by US government agencies and includes work…
US government needs to compete for tech talent, says GSA chief
The US government is “embarrassingly out of sync” with private sector salaries but could compete for tech talent by offering long-term telework opportunities and making it easier to navigate the “cumbersome” application process, the new General Services Administration (GSA) chief has said. In an interview with Wired, Robin Carnahan also said investment from the…
Sparking innovation: how to build a more adventurous, inventive workforce
At Innovation 2020, senior civil service leaders discussed how reforming recruitment, staff development and accountability systems gives officials the skills and tools to meet challenges. Elaine Knutt reports on their findings In many civil services around the world, the gap between policy staff and technical and delivery professionals is rather like a class divide. “I’ve…
White House federal IT plan details revamp of ‘outdated’ system
A report ordered by President Donald Trump has set out recommendations for an overhaul of the “unwieldy and out-of-date” US federal IT system, in part to address today’s heightened cybersecurity threats. The report published, last week by the American Technology Council (ACT) and the Office of American Innovation (OAI), outlines the current and envisioned state…
UK government’s shared services programme cost more than it saved, report warns
The UK government’s shared services programme has cost more than it has saved the government so far and weaknesses in the initiative’s design have undermined its success, the public spending watchdog has said in a report published today. The National Audit Office (NAO) said that the creation in 2013 of two shared service centres has…
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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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