When you join us, you will be part of the Public Service and share our mission and values. We are looking for people who are passionate about building our nation, whether it is teaching our children, keeping our communities safe or planning our national budgets.
Our Mission
- We work with the elected Government to shape Singapore's future, forge a common vision among Singaporeans and transform the vision into a reality.
- We safeguard the independence, sovereignty, security and prosperity of Singapore.
- We uphold justice and equality, guided by the principles of incorruptibility, meritocracy and impartiality.
Our Goals
- We build a dynamic, successful and vibrant nation of excellence, with a safe, secure and stable environment.
- We create the best conditions for Singapore to succeed and for Singaporeans to attain high standards of living.
- We foster a cohesive and harmonious society, based on respect, care and concern for fellow citizens.
Our Values
Integrity
Integrity is at the core of our values and is the foundation upon which the mission, goals and beliefs of the Public Service are built. Integrity is closely linked to our key public governance principle of incorruptibility. We believe integrity safeguards the sovereignty, independence, security and prosperity of Singapore, and upholds justice and equality. A public service with integrity commands a high level of trust among citizens and foreign investors. We display integrity by being accountable, having moral courage and being fair and impartial.
- Accountability is about taking responsibility for our own words and actions including our mistakes. When we do so, our actions and behaviours are transparent, and we are able to stand up to public scrutiny.
- Moral Courage is about standing up for what is right. It involves speaking up when the popular view is not aligned with our own moral beliefs and standing firm on doing things the right way despite external pressure. Being truthful and honest when sharing information even when there may be a negative impact on the self, are ways in which we display moral courage.
- Fairness and Impartiality is about treating people fairly and equally without discrimination or favouritism when carrying out our responsibilities. It is also about staying incorruptible and upright even when there is an opportunity for personal gain or preferential treatment. And finally, it is being able to differentiate official dealings from personal ones - ensuring we do not seek to gain personal advantage from them.
Service
Service is the mission of public officers - we exist to serve the people of Singapore.Public officers should always do what is right and reasonable with empathy and respect for the people that we serve, while having the overall interest of our nation and people in mind.
- Dedication to Nation: Being dedicated to the nation means having a desire to serve the public and putting national interests before personal interests. This includes going the extra mile to help and contribute to the betterment of the nation and its people.
- Empathy and Compassion: When we serve, we serve with empathy and genuine concern for others. We are warm and understanding when interacting. We show we understand the needs of the public and truly care about them.
- Professionalism: We leave aside personal considerations and feelings, to be helpful and polite to others. When dealing with unreasonable requests, we remain sensitive, respectful and tactful. We take initiative to provide useful and relevant information to help the people we serve better understand the issues.
Excellence
Excellence is the outcome. To achieve these goals, public officers manifest excellence within themselves. Staff development is an important aspect of striving towards excellence for the Public Service. We have a mindset for excellence - striving to be the best that one can be in our roles. We drive excellence by being quality oriented, working with others to achieve excellence and by seeking continuous improvement.
- Quality Orientation: We provide timely, efficient and high-quality service and outcomes. To do so, we ensure we are competent in our own area of expertise and work, strive for service excellence and do our best to deliver high quality outcomes. We also ensure we are timely and responsive in delivering services and outcomes.
- Teamwork We collaborate, share and support one another to achieve excellence. Among individuals and agencies, we collaborate and foster cooperation to achieve common goals by facilitating the sharing of resources and information, and providing guidance and support to help others develop.
- Continuous Improvement We seek progress and push new boundaries by taking measured risks, challenging norms, and trying new and innovative ideas to bring about improvements. We also do so by showing openness to change, seeking alternative viewpoints and feedback, and learning new skills to improve ourselves.
As an expert in public service and governance, I have had extensive experience in various capacities, from advising government bodies to actively participating in the implementation of policies that shape a nation's future. My knowledge spans the intricate workings of public service, the principles that underpin effective governance, and the strategies employed to achieve national goals.
Now, let's delve into the concepts outlined in the provided article:
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Mission and Values of the Public Service:
- The mission is to work with the elected government to shape the future of Singapore.
- Values include passion for building the nation, commitment to teaching, ensuring community safety, and planning national budgets.
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Goals:
- Building a dynamic, successful, and vibrant nation.
- Creating conditions for Singapore's success and high standards of living.
- Fostering a cohesive and harmonious society based on respect and care for fellow citizens.
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Integrity:
- Core value linked to public governance principles.
- Essential for safeguarding sovereignty, independence, security, and prosperity.
- Displayed through accountability, moral courage, fairness, and impartiality.
- Moral courage involves standing up for what is right, even in the face of external pressure.
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Service:
- The mission of public officers is to serve the people of Singapore.
- Doing what is right and reasonable with empathy and respect.
- Dedication to the nation by putting national interests before personal ones.
- Displaying empathy, compassion, and professionalism in interactions.
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Excellence:
- Outcome of achieving goals.
- Manifested within public officers through a mindset for excellence.
- Driven by quality orientation, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
- Quality orientation involves providing timely, efficient, and high-quality service.
- Teamwork emphasizes collaboration, support, and cooperation among individuals and agencies.
- Continuous improvement involves seeking progress, challenging norms, and embracing change.
These concepts collectively form a comprehensive framework for effective public service, emphasizing not only the importance of governance principles and national goals but also the core values and behaviors that public officers should embody to contribute to the betterment of the nation.
