The Behavioural Insights Team
2 Contributions by The Behavioural Insights Team Experts
PRACTICE NOTES
What does effective governance mean in the public sector?
In the public sphere, governance ensures that teams within an organisation, or those working in partnership, deliver their overarching purpose, realise intended results for citizens and service users, and conduct operations in a manner that is effective, efficient and ethical.
Effective governance is the dependable process through which an organisation affirms its identity and role, and translates its core mission, strategic plans and values into conduct and practice throughout the organisation or partnership. It also makes certain that everyone understands their roles, responsibilities and lines of accountability.
Governance is multifaceted and interpreted differently across contexts, yet most viewpoints converge on three central questions:
Who holds authority?
How should decisions be taken?
Where does ultimate accountability sit?
This Practice Note summarises the principal building blocks for putting in place and sustaining effective governance across the public
Public Law
PRACTICE NOTES
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note is archived and not being updated. Evidence-based policy is a method and mindset that supports people to take well-judged decisions on policies, programmes and projects by making sure policy design and delivery are guided by the strongest available evidence. As one Whitehall policymaker puts it in practical terms, there are two strands: evidence that action is required, and evidence that a chosen response is the right remedy. See What Works? Evidence-based Policy and Practice in Public Services, Nutley and Smith, 2000.
The rise of evidence-based policy
We should create policies that truly address problems, look ahead, are shaped by evidence rather than short-term pressures, and deal with root causes rather than symptoms, as set out in the White Paper Modernising Government, March 1999. The UK has been, and continues to be, among the world leaders in
Public Law
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