Getting traction on your agenda
To ensure that your agenda flows through to implementation and action on the ground, we think that the agenda's governance matters - arrangements that keep the agenda "alive" and focussed on results are critical to its ongoing effectiveness. We see a number of factors that are critical in this regard:
- strong Ministerial leadership - collective Ministerial vision and buy-in, with strong senior leadership from yourself and the Prime Minister
- single economic agenda - clearly communicated and understood by public
- consistent focus - build credibility with private sector (don't chop and change)
- fewer but bigger initiatives - maximise return to effort
- improved implementation of policies - stronger focus on state sector performance and keeping the bureaucracy on task and aligned
- more private sector involvement - Government can't do it alone; also needs ownership by business and other non-government groups, and
- strengthen budget-policy link - reinforce credibility of the economic agenda.
In practice, specific arrangements will depend on how you choose to organise yourselves in government. Provisionally, however, you may wish to consider:
- "Productivity Ministers": Which Minister(s) will be best-placed to lead a productivity-focussed economic agenda?
- Ministers with key interests in the delivery of the agenda: How best to engage key Ministers both in formulating the agenda and in owning its implementation? Potential role for a Cabinet Committee?
- Keeping the agenda focussed, with agencies aligned and on task: How to get consistent high-quality advice across a comprehensive agenda, and prevent it from becoming "bloated" over time? Potential role for a small group of senior officials?
- Engaging with the private sector: What arrangements will be most conducive to the private sector "owning" the Government's economic agenda?
We would welcome the opportunity of discussing specific options with you in light of decisions around portfolios, Cabinet Committees, etc.
