Public Innovators’ Network

Losing one is a misfortune. Two?

Ah yes, carelessness. Losing two is carelessness.

The internet has changed what’s possible in public services. That only happens if the shape and culture of Whitehall reflects the new reality. Today feels like a victory for those who believe a…

Bring Your Whole Self to Public Service

Part of a column “Letters to a Younger Officer”, published in the Singapore public service’s “Challenge” magazine and modelled after Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Letters to a Young Poet”.

10 things policy can learn from product

Six months ago I made a career pivot from policy making to product management. The roles…

Performance anxiety: 4 ways to make appraisals more useful

When you’re a child, receiving clear, transparent judgment is a daily experience. School reports, test scores, sporting results — your performance, in absolute terms and relative to your peers, is set out for all to see in red…

Getting stuff done

I bumped into a pal on the train last week. She, like me, “made the leap” to work for (a bit of) government.

‘A++++!! Would vote again.’

User reviews build trust in digital services. Governments need trust to…

Trousers speak louder than words

The ‘geeks in jeans’ trope is dull and false.

Setting standards that stick

Use them to empower the disempowered.