The government must increase its use of management information so that it can ensure better value for money, according an Institute for Government report, Improving Decision Making in Whitehall.
“Following the financial crisis, the government faces increasingly stark choices on how to manage its resources, functions, services and operations more effectively,” says the report, which was published last week. “To make informed decisions, keep a check on value for money and assess risks, government needs accurate management information.”
“Many government decisions appear to be based upon a hunch and not evidence,” added Charles Tilley, head of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.