Whole-of-Government Analysis

Whole-of-government analysis examines how public organisations coordinate across portfolio, sectoral and jurisdictional boundaries to tackle problems that no single agency can solve alone. Articulated by Tom Christensen and Per Lægreid in their 2007 study of whole-of-government reform, it is a response to the fragmentation produced by decades of New Public Management — the proliferation of single-purpose agencies, contracting and silos. The analysis identifies cross-cutting or 'wicked' problems, maps the actors and boundaries involved, assesses the coordination mechanisms in play, diagnoses where joined-up working breaks down, and recommends integration strategies.