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 35 starter terms, browse 35 essentials, or search all 422. Every item is also searchable in the full glossary.

Attending a meeting

Pre-read A paper, deck or other material sent in advance so participants can review it before the discussion or decision. Attending a meeting Writing a paper
Take offline To move a detailed, unresolved or tangential discussion to a separate conversation so the current meeting can proceed. Attending a meeting
Steer Directional 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. Writing a paper Attending a meeting
TOR Terms of Reference Attending a meeting
Steering Comm Steering Committee Attending a meeting Working across agencies
Action item A specific follow-up task with an owner and, ideally, a due date arising from a discussion, decision or direction. Attending a meeting Writing a paper
NOM Notes of Meeting Attending a meeting Writing a paper
AAR After Action Review Attending a meeting
Action tracker A working list used by a secretariat or project team to track follow-up actions, owners, deadlines and completion status. Attending a meeting Writing a paper
AOB Any Other Business Attending a meeting
AOM Any Other Matter Attending a meeting
Bilat Bilateral meeting Attending a meeting Working across agencies
Boil the ocean To attempt an excessively broad, comprehensive or ambitious piece of work when a narrower starting point would produce progress sooner. Writing a paper Attending a meeting
Circulation Sending a paper to members for written comments, clearance, endorsement, approval or decision, instead of or before convening a meeting. Writing a paper Attending a meeting
Exam question The core problem, outcome or decision that a piece of work is meant to address. Writing a paper Attending a meeting
ExCo Executive Committee Attending a meeting
Forum A formal scheduled committee, board or leadership meeting at which an issue is discussed, steered, endorsed or decided. Attending a meeting
Minutes The written record of a meeting, usually capturing decisions, directions, owners and follow-up actions; it may also be called NOMs or an ROD. Attending a meeting Writing a paper
Paralysis by analysis Delay or failure to act because analysis, planning or demand for certainty continues beyond what is useful for the decision. Writing a paper Attending a meeting
Play it by ear To decide how to proceed as the situation develops instead of fixing every detail in advance. Attending a meeting
Pre-brief A smaller briefing held before a formal forum so the chair or principal is prepared and material issues can be surfaced early. Attending a meeting
Quorum The minimum number of members who must be present before a committee or board can validly conduct specified business. Attending a meeting
Read-back A concise account given to bosses or colleagues who did not attend a meeting, visit or engagement, covering what was discussed, agreed, directed or left open. Attending a meeting Writing a paper
Recce Reconnaissance Attending a meeting Starting in Public Service
ROD Record of Discussion Attending a meeting
Sense-making Interpreting incomplete, ambiguous or competing information and perspectives to form a coherent understanding of a situation, its implications and what to do next. Writing a paper Attending a meeting Working across agencies
Steering Committee A senior group that provides strategic direction, oversees progress and resolves escalated issues for an initiative without doing all the detailed delivery work. Attending a meeting Procurement & projects
Table To place an item, paper or proposal before a meeting or decision-making body for discussion, endorsement or approval. Attending a meeting
Terms of Reference A document defining a committee, working group or project’s purpose, scope, membership, authority, deliverables and operating arrangements. Attending a meeting Writing a paper
TF Task Force Attending a meeting Working across agencies
TTX Tabletop Exercise Attending a meeting
TWG Technical Working Group Attending a meeting Working across agencies
WG Working Group Attending a meeting Working across agencies
Working Group A group of officers or stakeholders that performs detailed analysis, coordination or implementation within an agreed scope. Attending a meeting Working across agencies
Workplan Seminar An annual or periodic organisational event at which agency leadership communicates priorities, strategic direction and major plans for the coming work period. Starting in Public Service Attending a meeting