the -- sound -- written management procedures already in place within departments, the 'deadwood' would be sifted out, resources would be utilised effectively, quality would improve and good performance would be properly recognised and rewarded. My view, when I temporarily worked within a central government department (not as a manager) and based on substantial external managerial experience, is that only 10% cut in departmental staffing would have been needed instead of the 40% otherwise needed. Francis Maude should first ask the civil service heads to look inwards to this performance problem, not outwards. Once this has been done properly and its impact assessed, a view could be taken about what further steps may or may not be necessary. In short he needs to adopt the achievement-focused professional approach to management that external stakeholders already understand generates the results which the country wants and needs. And for which, through taxes, it is already paying.