Chief Minister Alfred Cannan has set out how the Isle of Man Government measures public‑sector productivity.
The Chief Minister explained that performance is being tracked through a mix of service metrics, financial reporting and workforce data, but acknowledging that the system is still “under active development”.
Responding to a written question from Speaker Juan Watterson, Mr Cannan said there is no single measure of productivity across the public service, and instead Government relies on a “balanced scorecard” approach embedded in departmental reporting frameworks.
Productivity Measured
The Chief Minister said Government currently monitors four main areas:
- Service performance, including demand levels, timeliness, quality and frontline outcomes;
- Progress against the Island Plan and legislative programme, using RAG ratings and project tracking;
- Financial indicators, such as net budget position, payroll costs, income and expenditure;
- Workforce data, including FTE numbers, vacancies, absence and cost‑per‑employee.
These indicators, he said, allow the Operational Performance and Change Board and the Chief Officer Group to monitor pressures, trends and improvement opportunities across departments.
He added that the “critical overall measure” remains departmental budgets, where increases have been limited and savings targets imposed. Treasury scrutiny reviews show most departments are currently forecasting to remain within their financial envelopes.
Benefits Identified
Mr Cannan highlighted the Government’s Efficiencies and Change Programme as a key mechanism for improving productivity, with progress reported quarterly.
As of December 2025, the programme had identified £14.6 million in potential benefits, a figure he said is continuing to grow as projects mature.
Examples of improvements already delivered include:
- A centralised contracts register;
- Expanded digitisation, including online driver and vehicle services, wider use of direct debit and digital payslips;
- Better income‑collection processes.
Promising Early Results
The Chief Minister also pointed to the Cabinet Office’s trial of Microsoft CoPilot, saying early feedback from staff was “strongly positive”. According to survey results:
- 66% of participants reported saving at least 30 minutes per day;
- A further 17% reported saving one hour or more;
- Staff cited improvements in speed, quality and productivity.
Government plans to expand CoPilot use across the public service, supported by the National AI Office, as part of a wider push for “responsible AI” deployment.
Looking ahead, Mr Cannan said Government will continue to pursue productivity gains through digital transformation, workforce modernisation and better asset use, with a commitment to deliver at least £50 million in savings over the next five years.
