Delivering Results: What Makes Governing Effective – and What Doesn’t

Delivering results is the ultimate test of governance – yet Germany’s federal structure, siloed responsibilities, and weak performance monitoring hinder effective implementation. Traditional approaches rely on ex-post evaluations, lengthy and repeated coordination meetings, and fragmented accountability, leaving priorities vulnerable to delay. Laws and budgets often serve as proxies for success, while measurable outcomes for citizens remain secondary. This Monitor examines why these methods fall short and how delivery units – small, empowered teams at the centre of government – can strengthen execution and ultimately, implementation.

Drawing on international best practices, the paper argues for impact-driven governance tailored to Germany’s constitutional framework. Delivery units do not replace ministries or divisions; they complement them by focusing on outcomes rather than processes. Positioned in the Federal Chancellery and State or Senate Chancelleries, they consolidate priorities, track progress through standardized indicators, and escalate is-sues to political leadership when necessary. This ensures accountability and transparency without undermining the Ressortprinzip – a cornerstone of German governance.

The concept is not theoretical. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have demonstrated that lean, highly skilled teams can significantly improve government performance. These units act as “implementation muscles,” bridging gaps between political ambition and administrative reality. For Germany, success depends on clear mandates, strong political backing, and integration with existing planning and budget structures. Cultural change is equally vital: shifting from inputdriven logic (passing laws, administering funds) to performance-oriented steering based on data and measurable impact.

Germany’s modernization agenda already points in this direction. The federal reform strategy adopted in late 2025 calls for modular implementation cycles, binding monitoring processes, and transparent reporting. Embedding delivery units within the governance core would operationalize these ambitions, enabling iterative implementation and evidence-based decision-making. Such units could also help overcome coordination challenges between federal levels, reducing friction and accelerating progress on shared priorities.

The payoff is significant: improved service quality, greater agility, and restored public trust in government’s ability to deliver. This is not about dismantling constitutional principles or imposing austerity; it is about making governance effective in a complex, federal system. In short: a lean, coordinated approach that turns commitments into tangible outcomes – and makes “the state delivers” more than a slogan.

Read the entire monitor “Der Staat liefert: Was Regieren wirksam macht – und was nicht” here as a PDF. Please note, to date the analysis is only available in German.