A ‘joined up’ debate has been launched across central and local government and the health service on the implications of the modernizing agenda for people who work in public services. The Cabinet Office, the Improvement & Development Agency and Department of Health working with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development have started a research programme to inform the debate.Initial research from the programme notes that modernization differs from the efficiency drives of the 80s and 90s because it brings a greater challenge. It is much easier to bear down on people to cut costs than to encourage them to risk their reputations and control over their job in a new approach to work.

The Institute has set up a website which invites views on four themes. Leadership: how do you get real commitment to modernizing throughout the organization? Strategy: how can a vision be turned into a strategy for people management and development? Capability: how do organization and individual competencies needs to change? Capacity: how can modernization make a reality of the aspiration to work smarter rather than harder?

The website displays case studies demonstrating examples of good practice.
Link: <http://www.cipd.co.uk/modernising-gov