Syncing the instruments and missions of government: re-thinking the roots of decay

Abstract

Careful analyses of government have suggested that many political systems are in decay. Some problems stem from challenges to governmental institutions. But fundamental, often unrecognised, challenges flow from the failure to sync the instruments of government action with the missions that governments seek to accomplish. The mismatch of instruments and goals, of capacity and results, lies at the heart of many of the most serious problems of government and governance. There are strong strategies that could close this performance gap. They require the strengthening of key instruments, involving human capital, information technology and boundary management.

Keywords:

• governmental decay
• policy execution
• centre of government
• centralisation
• decentralisation
• technology
• accountability