For years the goal was clear: administration has to become more efficient. Faster processes. Lower costs. More output. That was right — and still partly is. But it falls short. Because reality has changed.

Today, administration operates in an environment that’s constantly changing. And that’s exactly where the problem lies: systems optimised for maximum efficiency are often not designed for change. They’re good at handling the familiar as smoothly as possible. But they’re bad at reacting to the new. What they lack is resilience.

The OECD points to exactly this in its current analysis: a future-proof administration isn’t defined primarily by efficiency, but by its ability to adapt. In concrete terms, that means: administration has to be able to react quickly to new requirements. It has to be able to handle uncertainty. And it has to create structures that enable change — not prevent it.

The trade-off is obvious:

Efficiency reduces room for manoeuvre.

Being future-proof needs exactly that room.

That’s why we need more focus on the ability to learn, rather than on perfect planning. Has (new) reality ever caught up with you mid-project?

Source: OECD – Towards a Future-Oriented Public Sector: Anticipation, Adaptation and Learning in Government

Image: Ivan Pergasi for Unsplash

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