Skill vs luck: who really deserves the rewards from success? Career Advice Distinguishing performance from luck is an important problem when we need to know whether a successful person should be trusted and rewarded for his or…
Cass Sunstein’s Bill of Rights for Nudging Thursday July 19, 2018 By Stephen Easton Editors' Picks The co-father of modern nudges, former White House official Cass Sunstein, has five principles that should prevent most of the no-go areas of ethical government interventions.
When nudge comes to shove: making e-health opt-out was always a risky venture Thursday July 19, 2018 By Stephen Easton Editors' Picks The sudden rush to opt out of e-health records amid major privacy concerns demonstrates that governments have to be careful about how they use the…
Full-scale political row erupts over the merit of three APS appointments Wednesday July 18, 2018 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks Three key Australian Public Service appointments raise the flag on the tricky question of merit, says Verona Burgess.
The future of work: is it something completely different? Wednesday July 18, 2018 By Karen Chester Career Advice How to avoid a world of technology-driven haves and have-nots as the digital transformation is effected. Karen Chester suggests a range of practical measures to…
New Treasury secretary rolls the dice on his future Tuesday July 17, 2018 By Michelle Grattan Editors' Picks As well as angering Labor, the installation of Phil Gaetjens has raised eyebrows in bureaucratic quarters.
Who are the staffers shaping our political landscape? Monday July 16, 2018 By Victoria Draudins Editors' Picks The ministerial office is one of the last largely inscrutable parts of our democracy. Where do these staffers come from, and what makes them qualified?…
Why become a ministerial staffer Monday July 16, 2018 By Victoria Draudins Editors' Picks Public servants come back from working in a minister’s office with a variety of new skills, says Victoria Draudins.
Less insular Treasury is paying off, says outgoing boss Friday July 13, 2018 By David Donaldson Economy & Industry Basing staff in the nation's big economic centres is helping Treasury keep its fingers on the pulse, says the soon-to-depart John Fraser.
Eight simple* rules for making stuff with government Friday July 13, 2018 By Grace O'Hara Editors' Picks Nine designers and developers embedded in three Victorian government agencies over six months. Using the Most Significant Change Technique, these participants and their Public Sector…
Evidence-based policy still requires 'the art of sweet persuasion' Friday July 13, 2018 By Stephen Easton Editors' Picks The evidence-based policy movement places facts ahead of feelings, but perhaps it also corresponds with a decline in the arts of political negotiation and marshalling…
In conversation with Erma Ranieri, South Australia’s Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Wednesday July 11, 2018 By The Mandarin Career Advice In this episode I am joined by Erma Ranieri, South Australia's Commissioner for Public Sector Employment.
Parky's coups: how the APS head conjured up two major strikes Wednesday July 11, 2018 By Verona Burgess Editors' Picks Whether Martin Parkinson's APS reform coups prove helpful in the long run will depend on those from the public service diaspora who willingly step into…
Missing evidence base for big calls on infrastructure costs us all Wednesday July 11, 2018 By Hugh Batrouney Editors' Picks When the case for big transport projects is made without due analysis, we risk building the wrong projects. The result is we waste billions of…
'It was a challenge to build consensus around some of the biggest global challenges' Tuesday July 10, 2018 By The Mandarin Case studies Harriet Matthews, Director of Policy, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting talks about the challenges faced by the civil service in delivering the London 2018 event.
