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The Public Service newbie guide
A curated onboarding view of the main glossary, covering workplace terms and abbreviations you may encounter in the Singapore Public Service.
Learn 51 starter terms, browse 51 essentials, or search all 422. Every item is also searchable in the full glossary.
51 terms to start with
Ten high-value terms selected for a useful first pass through Public Service workplace language.
- FYFinancial Year
- Instruction ManualA set of central government instructions covering administrative areas such as HR, finance, procurement, office administration, security or ICT.
- Pre-readA paper, deck or other material sent in advance so participants can review it before the discussion or decision.
- Reporting officerThe manager responsible for supervising an officer’s work and providing performance feedback and assessment under the agency’s appraisal arrangements.
- Statutory boardA body established by legislation to perform public functions. It is part of government but is a separate legal entity, generally with its own governing board and operational flexibility.
- SubmissionAn official written paper put up for a superior or forum to note, discuss, clear, endorse, approve or decide.
- AORApproval of Requirement
- ClearanceA review confirming that material is suitable to move forward; clearance does not always constitute final authority to implement.
- MXManagement Executive Scheme
- Stat boardStatutory Board
- Take offlineTo move a detailed, unresolved or tangential discussion to a separate conversation so the current meeting can proceed.
- Whole-of-GovernmentWorking across ministry and agency boundaries towards the Government’s collective interests and outcomes, rather than optimising only for one organisation.
- FYAFor Your Action
- IAAInternal Approving Authority
- Permanent SecretaryThe administrative head of a ministry and a senior career public officer responsible to the Minister.
- PostingAn officer’s placement into a job, which may be within the same agency or part of a structured move across agencies or sectors.
- SteerDirectional guidance from a senior officer or forum on how to proceed. A steer may narrow the options or indicate a preferred approach without constituting formal approval.
- TORTerms of Reference
- AVCAnnual Variable Component
- First cutAn early working version prepared to establish the basic direction, structure or response before fuller review and refinement.
- FYNAFor Your Necessary Action
- PRPurchase Request
- SG-TeamsSingapore Government Microsoft Teams environment
- Steering CommSteering Committee
- WOGWhole-of-Government
- Action itemA specific follow-up task with an owner and, ideally, a due date arising from a discussion, decision or direction.
- Chief ExecutiveThe senior executive who heads a statutory board’s administration and management and works with its board, parent ministry and the wider Public Service.
- COBClose of Business
- DLPData Loss Prevention
- PBPerformance Bonus
- POPurchase Order
- SubSubmission
- GeBIZGovernment Electronic Business
- NFANo Further Action
- NOMNotes of Meeting
- Pls seeA short email or note instruction directing the recipient to read an attached, linked or quoted item.
- PSPermanent Secretary
- KIVKeep In View
- Pls follow upA short instruction asking the recipient to handle the next step and report back when needed.
- Political office-holderA political leader holding government office, such as a Minister, Senior Minister of State, Minister of State or Parliamentary Secretary, as distinct from a career public officer.
- SRService Request
- SVPSmall Value Purchase
- ApprovalA decision by the person or body holding the relevant authority to agree to a plan, request, commitment or expenditure.
- BAUBusiness as Usual
- HRPSHR and Payroll System
- ITQInvitation to Quote
- StaffAn officer who supports a principal or forum by analysing an issue, coordinating inputs, preparing recommendations or papers, and following decisions through; also used as a verb for carrying out that work.
- SGDISingapore Government Directory
- Working-levelDiscussion or resolution among officers doing the detailed staff work, usually before escalation to principals or a formal forum. Also called staff-level discussion.
- SocialiseTo discuss an emerging proposal informally with relevant stakeholders so concerns can be understood and surprises reduced before formal staffing.
- No surprisesA working norm that material issues, risks or disagreements should be surfaced early rather than first appearing at a formal forum.