Institute for Public Service Value will take independent look at delivery of government services

Consultancy Accenture is launching an independent research group to consider novel approaches to public service delivery.

The 'public value' concept at the heart of the Accenture Institute for Public Service Value (PSV) focuses on the outcome – such as health or education – rather than the input – such as the number of nurses or books.

'It is about getting beyond looking at the number of bobbies on the beat and considering what citizens are enjoying in terms of community safety, and using this as a basis for organisational change and accountability,' said Institute director Dr Greg Parston.

Accenture is committed to funding the venture for three years but Parston will also be bidding for other funding sources such as research grants. A small full-time staff in Europe and the US will be supplemented by fellows from across the public and private sectors.

The first task will be organising dialogue groups on a geographic basis to establish the issues are barriers in different sectors and different environments.