Four principles for a better public sector

"Innovative governments are making it easier for citizens to access public services."

Government by design: four principles for a better public sector
D Farrell, A Goodman
McKinsey & Company
December 2013

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Systematic reviews for informing policy decisions

"This guide is a short introduction for decision-makers and researchers or anyone else considering whether a systematic review may be appropriate to fill a gap in knowledge or to use as a resource. It will help anybody planning on commissioning a review of what research is already out there. You may be an analyst, evaluator, policymaker or commissioner."

Learning from research: systematic reviews for informing policy decisions
D Gough, S Oliver, J Thomas
Alliance for Useful Evidence
EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London
December 2013

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Role of complaints in transforming public services

"Getting complaints is much better than not getting complaints – they show that people think it’s worth complaining and that they will be listened to, and that they believe that they have power to influence the system."

Grumbles, gripes and grievances: the role of complaints in transforming public services
R Simmons, C Brennan
NESTA
April 2013

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Improving the allocation of health resources in England

"We review how health resource allocation in England and the formula on which it is based have changed over time, with a detailed critique of how decisions are currently made and how the process will change from April."

Improving the allocation of health resources in England: how to decide who gets what
D Buck, A Dixon
The King's Fund
April 2013

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Integration across government

"This report examines how well government identifies and implements opportunities to integrate public services or other programmes."

Integration across government
Cabinet Office and HM Treasury
National Audit Office
March 2013

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What works: evidence centres for social policy

"It is a fundamental principle of good public services that decisions are made on the basis of strong evidence and what we know works."

What works: evidence centres for social policy
HM Government
March 2013

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Government efficiency

In order to continue to improve efficiency in the public sector, governments should focus on four key areas:

1. pursuing innovative practices linked to efficiency; 
2. scaling the use of efficient practices;
3. improving the use of established measurement and analytical tools to generate actionable insights;
4. and strengthening management incentives to become more efficient.

This report, although focusing on efficiency in the Government of the United Arab Emirates, provides guidance for all governments around the world.

Government efficiency
United Arab Emirates in collaboration with Deloitte
February 2013

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What counts as good evidence?

"Research data only really become information when they have the power to change views, and they only really become evidence when they attract advocates for the messages they contain."

What counts as good evidence?
S Nutley, A Powell, H Davies
Research Unit for Research Utilisation
University of St Andrews
November 2012

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Choice and competition in public services: learning from history

"This report identifies 11 general rules that current reformers should be aware of when introducing market mechanisms."

Choice and competition in public services: learning from historyT Gash, T Roos
Institute for Government
August 2012

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Current use, future trends and opportunities in public sector social media

"This Report is designed to help those public sector organisations in preparing for their social media journey, to act as an introductory guide to the leading tools in the marketplace, and importantly to provide some insight from those existing social media practitioners that have been addressing the challenge in recent years."

Current use, future trends and opportunities in public sector social media
Cogitamus
NHS Confederation
August 2012

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Guide to commissioning for maximum value

"This guide is for people involved at all stages in commissioning public services in all public bodies."

Guide to commissioning for maximum value
Local Government Association
January 2012

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