Tag: PublicServiceCulture
-
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…
-
Yes, Minister (au Canada!)
I prepared this op-ed as both a match assessment (betting line?) for observers and as a perspective specifically for the players involved in this intended, one-in-a-lifetime transformation of the federal government. Parliament sits with a new cabinet and lofty ambitions to get things done. It is, once again, a time of hope. Let’s temper those…
-
Driving Transformation: Ministers and Deputies as Architects of Organizational Agility
The Imperative for Agility In today’s rapidly evolving policy environment, Ministers and Deputy Ministers are expected not only to set priorities but to foster agility across the public service. Policy challenges—from climate change to digital transformation to tariffs—require the federal public service to adapt quickly without sacrificing accountability. Yet the culture of government is inherently…
-
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…
-
Directors General: Making Decisions That Shape Culture and Drive Transformation
DGs at the Operational Helm Directors General occupy a unique leadership tier in Canada’s federal public service. Situated between ADMs and Directors, DGs are responsible for translating strategic direction into operational reality. Unlike ADMs, who focus on broader portfolios, DGs must make decisions within their own domain and see them through, communicating rationale upward while…
-
ADMs and the Weight of Responsibility: Culture, Accountability, and the Need to Decide
The Tightrope of ADM Leadership Assistant Deputy Ministers (ADMs) live at the critical juncture where government policy meets organizational reality. Unlike Ministers and Deputies, you are not setting the political agenda. Unlike Directors General (DGs), you are not solely responsible for operational delivery. Instead, you occupy the middle ground where policy intent must be translated…
