Improved public sector efficiency and outcomes are important goals, as well as enhancing responsiveness of the public service.
Accountability is an important objective.
Considerable work has been undertaken to clarify and expound the accountability concepts underlying the reforms. The reforms are comprehensive, combining a wide range of approaches which have been implemented across the public sector. The approach to reforms can not be characterised as legislative, but it is considered necessary to provide a solid legal basis. Implementation of the reforms has been flexible, giving space for ad hoc initiatives. The major reform initiatives have been developed at the top.