An engaged civil service for innovation, productivity and sustainable reform

This chapter looks at how a number of OECD countries are using the concept of employee engagement to drive a better, evidence-based approach to management. Definitions and evidence of engagement are discussed, followed by a description of how the United States, the United Kingdom and the German Employment Agency (Bundesagentur fur Arbeit, BA) measure engagement and use it to drive performance. This is followed by a discussion of how the tools of leadership and management can promote engagement, as well as a modern and individualised HRM. Chapter 3 concludes with suggestions on how engagement can be improved in OECD civil services.