Continuous improvement

This subtopic provides an overview of continuous improvement (CI) methodologies and tools, and covers the following areas:

•
what is CI
•
a five-step improving efficiency framework:
1. ◦
  step 1—identify and define the problem
2. ◦
  step 2—measure the problem
3. ◦
  step 3—analyse what’s causing the problem
4. ◦
  step 4—improve the process
5. ◦
  step 5—making changes across the department
•
managing change

What is CI?

The definition of CI is often overcomplicated and buried in jargon, but it means exactly what it says: continually looking for ways to improve processes, methods and procedures to remove blockages, make them as efficient as possible, and therefore, save time and money.

Improvements do not have to be major changes; a number of small but effective changes soon add up.

CI tools and methods can help fix processes that are no longer effective, and allow a review of processes that currently appear to be working but could still be improved to deliver greater efficiencies and cost savings. In organisations where staffing levels have been cut, CI can also help identify how to perform the same tasks

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

TAKE A FREE TRIAL

Latest Public Law News

Cabinet Office updates guide to making legislation

The Cabinet Office has published an update to its guide to making legislation, which sets out the procedures for preparing primary legislation and taking it through Parliament. A new version of the guide was published in February 2025. In the update, section 10.4 (on the legal status of explanatory notes) has been revised.

Public Law case law quarterly—Q2 2025

The Public Law case law quarterly provides details and analysis of notable judgments collated by the Lexis+® UK Public Law team each quarter. Highlights in this edition include analysis of the Supreme Court’s decision in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers, which confirmed that ‘sex’ under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010) refers to biological sex. This edition also looks at Supreme Court decisions on the Special Immigration Appeals Commission’s role in national security appeals, anonymity and freedom of expression in the context of litigation involving NHS Trusts, and statutory interpretation and procedure in a case concerning rights of the public under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985. Also in this edition, the European Court of Human Rights decision in Green v United Kingdom, which examined the margin of appreciation in the context of parliamentary privilege. Court of Appeal decisions highlighted in this edition concern recognition of non-binary gender under the Gender Recognition Act 2004, DOLs orders and Article 5 ECHR, Article 14 ECHR challenges to employment legislation, regulatory compliance in planning decisions, and amendments to the Public Order Act 1986. Further analysis considers legitimate expectation from oral statements, extensions of time in judicial review, recusal applications in cases of possible judicial bias, challenges to the removal of VAT exemptions for private school fees, applications to lift the automatic suspension in public procurement challenges, and the consequences of misusing AI in court proceedings.

High Court orders thorough and independent investigation into MI5 false evidence

In HM Attorney General for England and Wales v British Broadcasting Corp; R (on the application of ‘Beth’) v The Investigatory Powers Tribunal [2025] EWHC 1669 (KB), the High Court rejected findings from two investigations into MI5's provision of false evidence regarding an informant known as ‘X’. The court found major procedural deficiencies in both MI5's internal investigation and an external review by former Head of the Government Legal Department, Sir Jonathan Jones KC. The judgment called for a new independent investigation and criticised MI5's continued reliance on ‘neither confirm nor deny’ policies in legal proceedings. The case arose from MI5 providing false evidence in 2022 injunction proceedings brought by the Attorney General against the BBC. The Centre for Women’s Justice issued a statement on the ruling and its wider implications.

SLSC publishes 30th report of session 2024–2025

The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) has published its 30th Report of Session 2024–2025, drawing attention to the Draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025, which proposes the proscription of three groups—Palestine Action, Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russian Imperial Movement—under counter-terrorism legislation, and the Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which update the Guaranteed Standards Scheme for the first time in 25 years but include an indexation mechanism that may not function as intended. The report also highlights instruments of interest including the Draft Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which expand eligibility and funding for energy bill support; the Draft Oliver McGowan Code of Practice on statutory learning disability and autism training, which sets standards for mandatory training in health and social care; and the Allocation of Housing (Qualification Criteria for Victims of Domestic Abuse and Care Leavers) (England) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/706, which standardise exemptions from local connection requirements across England.