Tag: GovernmentTransformation
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Ministers and Deputy Ministers: Sustaining Transformation Amid Political and Operational Pressures
Leadership Continuity as a Transformation Imperative Ministers and Deputy Ministers (DMs) occupy the apex of government transformation efforts. Ministers provide political vision, drive mandate alignment, and engage stakeholders, while DMs ensure operational feasibility, continuity, and accountability. Transformation succeeds when political priorities and administrative capabilities are fully aligned, creating both momentum and sustainability. In a context…
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Ministers and Deputy Ministers: Anchoring Transformation Through Political and Administrative Alignment
Political-Administrative Leadership as a Transformation Anchor In the Canadian federal system, transformation initiatives succeed only when political and administrative leadership align. Ministers set the political vision and policy direction, while Deputy Ministers (DMs) ensure administrative continuity and operational feasibility. When both roles work in synergy, reforms are not only launched but also embedded and sustained.…
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Leading from the Middle: How ADMs Balance Urgency and Patience in Government Transformation
The ADM’s Balancing Act For Assistant Deputy Ministers (ADMs), leadership in transformation is uniquely challenging. Positioned between the strategic vision of Ministers/Deputies and the operational realities of Directors General and front-line staff, ADMs must constantly reconcile competing pressures. On one hand, Ministers and Deputies push for urgency—quick wins that show tangible progress in politically relevant…
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Ministerial Leadership: Setting the Tone for Transformation Through Clear Accountability
Ministers as Strategic Anchors In Canada’s system of responsible government, Ministers stand at the political–administrative interface. As elected officials, they are both accountable to Parliament and responsible for providing direction to the public service. While Deputy Ministers oversee departmental operations, it is the Minister’s leadership that sets the tone for transformation, particularly in times of…
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ADMs as Drivers of Operational Transformation: From Advice to Ownership
The Operational Pivot Assistant Deputy Ministers (ADMs) occupy a unique and challenging position within the federal public service. You are entrusted with translating Deputy and Ministerial intent into operational reality while navigating a culture that prizes caution and consensus. Transformation in government is rarely straightforward. It requires more than technical expertise—it demands decisive action, cultural…
