Essentials for Effective Government

This 5-day course will support senior public service officials’ organisational development and also strengthen their leadership capability. It will offer a toolkit of essential knowledge and skills to enhance their effectiveness in supporting critical processes of government and governance in their countries and regions. The instructors have all spent many years working at the heart of government with strong practical experience of the subject as practitioners as well as trainers. They have each been involved in training and consultancy internationally working with a range of governments in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Pacific and Caribbean regions. This programme addresses three aspects of the role of senior officials and public servants: Supporting effective government and good governance Setting direction: aligning activities and resources to the achievement of key outcomes Improving performance through leadership Specific topics include, but are not limited to, the following: Understanding government: principles, practice and institutions Principles of good governance The roles and responsibilities of public servants; accountability Strategic thinking: seeing the bigger picture; setting the direction; focussing on outcomes; dealing with uncertainty Policy-making: policy thinking and analysis; supporting decision-making; planning for delivery Effective use of resources: managing public finances; securing value for money; project and programme management; approaches to organisational effectiveness; people, performance and capabilities Who should attend: The programme is primarily intended for senior executives in government and public service. It is suitable for anyone at senior level who has responsibility and influence in relation to the processes, decisions, actions, products and outcomes of government. The programme should also be of value to senior managers in organisations seeking more effective engagement with government. Ministers Permanent Secretaries Directors in Ministries Directors and leaders of arm’s-length bodies and agencies Politicians Consultants Senior managers and directors of organizations who need to interact with the above
Day 1 Orientation: Understanding UK government Supporting effective government and good governance Government and governance Roles and responsibilities of public servants Working with Ministers Review and completion of Reflective Journal Day 2 Supporting effective government and good governance The bigger picture: working across organisational, national and international boundaries Working with Parliament Visit to UK Parliament Review and completion of Reflective Journal Setting the direction: aligning activities and resources to the achievement of key outcomes Strategic thinking Policy Making Effective Use of resources: improving effectiveness and efficiency in government Review and completion of Reflective Journal Day 3 Setting the direction: aligning activities and resources to the achievement of key outcomes Strategic thinking Policy Making Effective Use of resources: improving effectiveness and efficiency in government Review and completion of Reflective Journal Day 4 Setting the direction: aligning activities and resources to the achievement of key outcomes Managing public finances Managing through people: improving performance and skills Improving performance through leadership Personal and team leadership styles Approaches to leadership Review and completion of Reflective Journal Day 5 Improving performance through leadership Approaches to leadership (continued) Questions, challenges and action plans Round table discussion Programme Review and action plans