Publications
How coalition governments renew in mid-term and last the full term
14th June 2012
As the coalition approaches the mid-point of its planned five-year term a big ‘what’s next?’ question hangs over the government. This report is a study of how coalitions can renew themselves in mid-term and give themselves fresh momentum and a clear sense of purpose as they move towards the next election.
Seven tests for the new reform plan
11th June 2012
With publication of a civil service reform plan imminent, we examine what the plan needs to do to be successful.
Effective use of management information
22nd May 2012
The Institute for Government, in partnership with CIMA and Deloitte, looked at a number of areas within Whitehall where the use of management information is being improved. The research in this publication aims to provide a clearer understanding of the factors underpinning improvement, and to make suggestions about improvements across government.
The Efficiency Unit in the early 1980s and the 1987 Next Steps Report
18th May 2012
Changes to civil service practices, culture and skills in the 1980s form an important stage in the development of the Civil Service. The Efficiency Unit was established in 1979 election by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to look for ways of saving money in departments, but developed a pattern of work that would also seek to tackle skills and culture, with some hope of thereby reforming the system itself.
29th March 2012
This collection of essays seeks to bring together in one place the evidence on what mayoral governance could do for our cities.
How to create effective relationships between government and arm’s-length bodies
23rd March 2012
Our report looks at what is needed for effective relations between government departments and arm’s-length bodies (ALBs). It is part of a project we have undertaken with the Public Chairs’ Forum.
A guide to help policy makers learn about publically funded markets
14th March 2012
Testing new commissioning models offers many benefits: implementation can be investigated, contracts perfected, and mistakes minimised. Yet there is a lack of advice for civil servants on testing effectively. This guide starts to address this gap.
5th March 2012
This open letter sets out the Institute for Government's view of the challenges on civil service reform facing Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary, and Sir Bob Kerslake, the Head of the Civil Service, as they begin their dual leadership.
15th February 2012
The formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democratic government was an event of great historical significance. Not only did it end thirteen years of Labour Party rule, but it marked a departure from the traditional practice of single-party government at Westminster.http://www.uea.ac.uk/psi/events/the-coalition-at-one
14th February 2012
In this brief working paper we analyse the institutional roles clinicians have filled in national policy making over the last dozen years to suggest ‘conditions of success’ for when any further appointments are being considered.