From shifting trade patterns to disrupted supply chains, today’s geopolitical landscape is defined by volatility. This puts greater pressure on governments to balance domestic priorities with a rapidly changing external environment. Effective strategies, supported by robust performance management, are essential. Performance Magazine delivers the insights and best practices to help leaders navigate this uncertainty.

Closing out Performance Magazine’s 10th anniversary, the Government Edition completes the narrative formed by previous editions—Employee Performance, AI, and Sustainability—highlighting the key trends that guided organizational success in 2025 and equipping leaders with lessons to tackle strategic priorities in 2026.

Here are 10 things you need to know about Performance Magazine’s 35th issue:

1. The issue coincides with the release of the latest edition of the Government Services Index (GSI) and features articles that conduct comprehensive analyses of the 2025 index’s findings, which can help readers benchmark their own governance practices and anticipate global trends. In particular, the cover story, “All Roads Lead to Governance”, shows which countries are future-ready according to the index.
2. The idea of digital government is reframed in the aptly titled “Digital Government Is Not What You Think”, giving readers a better idea of what it takes to provide citizens with responsive and effective digital services. 
3. The question of “What happens when governments invest in social welfare?” is answered in “The Economics of Compassion”. The article helps readers understand what defines a successful welfare state and how to achieve it.
4. In “Cracks in the System?”, we define what it takes for governments to remain resilient in the face of polarization, systemic shock, and geopolitical unrest.
5. Guest contributor Dr. Jon Truby offers tips to face the challenges of AI adoption in the public sector in “When AI Governance Becomes National Strategy”.
6. The interviews section features insights from two experts hailing from Saudi Arabia: Rayan Alzunaydi of the Qassim Health Cluster and Yara AlHazmi of the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services. Alzunaydi goes over how to improve performance across multiple health facilities with varying degrees of maturity across a health cluster. Meanwhile, AlHazmi talks about how her organization tracks progress as it aims to grow Saudi Arabia’s logistics market.
7. The issue’s contributors hail from different countries across multiple continents, offering unique regional perspectives for our readers.
8. The issue contains 22 resources recommended by the Performance Magazine editorial team. These resources include statistics that give a snapshot of the current state of geopolitics as it relates to business strategy and performance management, as well as podcasts, publications, software, industry events, and academic literature that should prove useful to public sector professionals.
9. The issue also features a news section featuring reports of geopolitcal developments that will shape the business landscape over the next few months or even years.
10. As always, Performance Magazine Print Edition is free to download on TKI Marketplace. For a physical copy, Amazon charges a publishing fee (the price varies depending on the region). Grab your copy today!

When a government program works well, we barely notice. Mainly, it’s smooth roads, quick turnaround services, and policies that make sense. But when things go wrong, everyone feels it. So, what separates effective governance from the rest? Is it a smart policy? Strong leadership? The right data?

This month, we’re exploring what it really takes to measure and improve government performance. From key evaluation frameworks to real-world success stories, The KPI Institute’s (TKI) resources break down how public sector leaders can track progress, make informed decisions, and create lasting impact. 

The resources below are anchored on timeless principles and have been chosen for their adaptability to current societal demands. Whether you’re in government, policy research, or just passionate about how things run, there’s plenty here to spark new insights.

Performance Magazine Issue No. 30, 2024 – Government Edition: This edition showcases best practices in strategy planning and performance management within the government sector worldwide. It presents insights on how to achieve accountable allocation of resources while upholding transparency, efficiency, and public trust in all initiatives.

Articles: Explore practical tips for improving government performance in a collection of articles on the Performance Magazine website, written by experts and analysts.

• Is Transparent Governance Truly the Key to Better Public Sector Performance?
• Indonesia’s Bureaucratic Reform Initiatives: How to Be an Agile Government
• This is How Norway is Inspiring Trust in Government
• KPI of the Day – % Government Basic Services Available Online

Government Services Index 2024: This resource stands as a compilation of indicators developed to assess the performance of government service delivery, aiming to enhance both efficiency and overall service quality for citizens. This index encompasses five key dimensions, thoughtfully selected for their key roles as primary contributors to the public services: Future Readiness, Digitalization, Governance, Society Welfare, and Citizen Experience. Rooted in data derived from 30 specific indicators aligned with these dimensions, covering more than 122 countries, 5 world regions, and highlighting the top performers in each region and on each dimension.

The State / Federal Government KPI Dictionary: This dictionary helps professionals understand key performance indicators (KPIs) in the public sector, how they are defined, how to standardize KPI names for consistency, and how to document them for accurate data collection. Explore this collection to find the most relevant KPIs used in government to implement a strong performance measurement and management system.

Top 25 State Government KPIs – 2016 Extended Edition: Designed to improve KPI monitoring and reporting, this edition is a key resource for state government professionals. It also offers a fresh approach to creating the KPI documentation form.

National Development Indices Catalogue: Explore 57 KPIs tracked at the country level. See how your country is performing in areas like politics, economy, governance, social progress, technology, and the environment.

State of Strategy Management Practice Report 2024 – MENA Region: Discover strategic management and performance measurement trends in the MENA region within today’s changing business environment. The report also offers valuable insights, expert advice, and practical recommendations that governments can apply, focusing on best practices in planning, KPI use, project management, and organizational agility.

Harness these tools to help your organization excel and adapt. The future is yours to lead!

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in the public sector, reshaping interactions between citizens and their governments. Across various touchpoints, from online information access to in-person services, AI enhances the citizen journey by analyzing data to deliver personalized services tailored to individual needs. AI-powered chatbots provide instant responses, while predictive analytics anticipate citizen preferences and streamline processes.

Moreover, AI drives digitalization efforts by automating routine tasks, facilitating data interoperability, and identifying patterns in citizen behavior. This paves the way for future readiness by enabling agile decision-making, proactive issue identification, and the adoption of innovative service delivery models. As a result, AI transforms governance frameworks, fosters data-driven decision-making, and enhances transparency and trust in government processes.

Global frontrunners in today’s dynamic landscape

The pursuit of strategic excellence in performance management continues to be a cornerstone for nations striving to deliver exceptional public services. Certain countries have emerged as frontrunners in this context, setting a high bar for strategic planning and execution. Most recently, Finland, Denmark, and Singapore, each representing diverse regions and cultures, have distinguished themselves as global leaders in government service provision, showcasing remarkable achievements across critical dimensions of public service performance.

AI-related initiatives

According to The KPI Institute’s (TKI) newest release, the 2023 Government Services Index, Finland, the ultimate global leader in public services provision, prioritizes citizen-centric design in online services, leveraging AI algorithms to personalize recommendations and enhance the user experience. Robust data security and privacy measures ensure that citizens’ personal information is handled securely, fostering trust in digital government initiatives. Through initiatives like the Place to Experiment and open government data policies, Finland promotes innovation and citizen engagement, contributing to continuous improvement in digital services and overall citizen experience.

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This excerpt is from the cover story of Performance Magazine Issue No. 30, 2024 – Government Edition titled “Lessons from global leaders: how AI is changing public service delivery.” Read the full article by downloading a free digital copy of the magazine via TKI Marketplace. You can also get your hands on the printed version by purchasing a copy on Amazon.

Performance Magazine has reported a remarkable 40% increase in downloads from 2023. Over the last decade, Performance Magazine has established itself as a reliable source for industry know-how, trends, and best practices in strategy, performance management, and data analytics. This milestone not only proves the publication’s long-standing dedication to providing high-quality information, but also demonstrates the growing demand for its insights among professionals worldwide.

In 2023, Performance Magazine rolled out editions centered on the public sector, data analytics, government, and sustainability. As always, the magazine featured industry leaders and top executives from major organizations, such as Eelco van der Enden of the Global Reporting Initiative and Madhur Mayank Sharma, Head of SAP’s AI Services & Accelerator team.

This year, Performance Magazine gave its readers back-to-back releases: the Employee Performance Edition and the Strategy Management Edition. The Employee Performance Edition discusses the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in talent management, democratizing strategy planning, implementing a hybrid performance management system, nurturing holistic performance management, and more. 

On the other hand, the Strategy Management Edition offers insights into practicing strategic leadership in disruptive times, empowering employees for effective change management, and ensuring data accuracy for informed decision-making. The next two editions of Performance Magazine for 2024 are about business excellence and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in strategy and performance management.

Drawing on The KPI Institute’s (TKI) 20 years of experience in performance management, Performance Magazine provides its readers with prime resources, updates, interviews, case studies, expert recommendations, and global perspectives on strategy and performance management. Its first printed edition was launched in April 2015, with TKI’s CEO, Dr. Aurel Brudan, on the cover.

As the magazine gears up for its 10th anniversary next year, enjoy your free access to past editions of Performance Magazine on TKI Marketplace.

Performance Magazine, a trusted professional resource for industry updates, expert analysis, case studies, and trends in strategy and performance management, marked a successful year in 2023 with the release of four special editions. Performance Magazine – Print Edition is published quarterly by The KPI Institute (TKI), a leading global research institute dedicated to defining standards and advancing the field of strategy and performance management.

The four editions covered themes of the public sector, sustainability, data analytics, and government. Each edition showcases insights from guest experts in their respective fields. The magazines also present real-world examples, dissect frameworks, and offer practical recommendations for professionals seeking a comprehensive understanding of performance standards.

The Public Sector Edition highlights TKI’s Government Service Index Report 2022, which documents the performance of governments worldwide in key public service areas. The data were analyzed using five dimensions: adaptability, talent, digitalization, governance, and impact. The digital copy of this edition can be downloaded directly from TKI Marketplace while the print copy is available for purchase on Amazon.

The Sustainability Edition offers valuable information and analysis on how to effectively apply sustainable practices to business operations and strategy, as well as measuring and evaluating the impact of such efforts on the growth of the business and the wider society. Readers can grab a copy on TKI Marketplace or Amazon.

The Data Analytics Edition provides insights into applying data analytics to transform business operations, develop robust strategies, improve decision-making, and enhance performance management. This edition can be accessed through TKI Marketplace or Amazon.

The Government Edition explores the public sector’s multifaceted approach to strategy and performance management and reviews standards and concepts behind the tools and techniques governments use in planning strategies and measuring performance. Those interested can secure a copy via TKI Marketplace or Amazon.

For the first quarter of 2024, readers can look forward to editions covering employee performance and strategy management. Stay updated and be the first to access them by following TKI’s LinkedIn page.

In the PERFORMANCE Magazine Issue No. 27, 2023 – Government Edition, The KPI Institute was given the opportunity to connect with Michael Jacobson, Deputy Director for Performance and Strategy in King County’s Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget, through a written interview and discuss government strategy and performance management, focusing on people, processes, and public service.

TKI: What key trends have shaped the public sector in recent years, and how have they influenced governmental practices and policies?

Jacobson: Increasing complexity and cross-sectoral issues: the hardest problems to solve are not technical or even financial but cut across multiple sectors and social dimensions. They also require political agreement or at least alignment. The public sector cannot solve issues like homelessness, climate change, or poverty alone. The need for cross-sectoral collaboration is required.

Demographics: this applies to the increasing diversity of the populations we serve and the changing expectations of new generations and their relationship to work, especially if they want to work in the public sector. This requires a more racially diverse workforce and a more responsive stance as an employer to adapt to changing market conditions. This has also reinforced the need for governments to improve equity in services and policies (process, distributional, and results).

Accountability and limited resources: increased public accountability and constrained resources have required governments to focus on management systems, including performance management and Lean, to deliver results.

TKI: In your observations in general, what do you think about how well governments manage their performance in terms of strategy planning and performance monitoring?

Jacobson: Some are doing a fantastic job developing strategic plans, cascading strategy down to the organization, and tracking performance to targets. Some are doing little of these things and primarily reacting to issues. The majority are doing one or two major planning and monitoring efforts, maybe inconsistently or in specific departments only and not at an enterprise scale.

A complete strategic planning-monitoring-improvement cycle (or a complete Plan-Do-Check-Adjust cycle) is not a small thing. It has taken us years to have the key elements in place at the enterprise level in King County. There are still many opportunities to improve, whether using targets more consistently or being more results-focused when performance differs from where it needs to be.

Dive deeper into Jacobson’s perspectives on the latest trends in strategy and performance management in the government sector today. Check out the cover story of the newest issue of PERFORMANCE Magazine. Visit the TKI Marketplace for a free digital copy and Amazon for an additional printed version of the magazine.