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 89 starter terms, browse 89 essentials, or search all 422. Every item is also searchable in the full glossary.

Writing a paper

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
Submission An official written paper put up for a superior or forum to note, discuss, clear, endorse, approve or decide. Writing a paper
Clearance A review confirming that material is suitable to move forward; clearance does not always constitute final authority to implement. Writing a paper
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
First cut An early working version prepared to establish the basic direction, structure or response before fuller review and refinement. Writing a paper
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
Sub Submission Writing a paper
NOM Notes of Meeting Attending a meeting Writing a paper
Pls see A short email or note instruction directing the recipient to read an attached, linked or quoted item. Writing a paper
Pls follow up A short instruction asking the recipient to handle the next step and report back when needed. Writing a paper
Approval A decision by the person or body holding the relevant authority to agree to a plan, request, commitment or expenditure. Writing a paper
Socialise To discuss an emerging proposal informally with relevant stakeholders so concerns can be understood and surprises reduced before formal staffing. Starting in Public Service Writing a paper Working across agencies
3S Stability, Self-reliance, and Social mobility Writing a paper
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
Allotted Day A parliamentary day reserved under Standing Orders for debating specified business with a protected minimum period of debate. Writing a paper
Backcasting A foresight method defining a desired or feared future, then working backwards to identify policies or programmes connecting it to the present. Writing a paper
BI Behavioural Insights Writing a paper
Black elephant A major foreseeable risk combining disruptive consequences with a tendency to be collectively ignored until it becomes a crisis. Writing a paper
Blue Book A popular parliamentary name for official reports, statistics and government or parliamentary publications presented with blue covers. Writing a paper
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
CBA Cost-Benefit Analysis Writing a paper Procurement & projects
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
Clean version A document prepared for reading, circulation or submission without visible tracked changes or comments. Writing a paper
Clear Days A parliamentary notice period calculated by excluding the filing day, sitting day, intervening weekends and public holidays. Writing a paper
Collection of Voices A parliamentary vote in which Members call 'Aye' or 'No' and the Speaker judges which response prevails. Writing a paper
Command Paper A paper presented to Parliament by command of the President, usually on a Minister's initiative. Writing a paper
Concurrence Agreement by another authority, agency or stakeholder whose concurrence is required before the matter can proceed. Writing a paper
COS cut Committee of Supply cut Writing a paper
Cover note A short explanation of what is being sent, why it matters and what action is requested from the recipient. Writing a paper
De-risk To take steps that reduce the likelihood, impact or uncertainty of problems before committing, launching or scaling. Writing a paper Procurement & projects
Dipstick A small or lightweight test used to get an early indication of how an idea, approach or service is working before committing to a fuller review or rollout. Writing a paper
Endorsement Support given by a stakeholder or intermediate authority, commonly before the matter goes to the person or forum with final approval authority. Writing a paper
Evergreen Expected to remain relevant or useful over time rather than being tied to one event, announcement or planning cycle. Writing a paper
Exam question The core problem, outcome or decision that a piece of work is meant to address. Writing a paper Attending a meeting
Exempted Business Parliamentary business authorised to continue beyond the moment of interruption for a specified or unspecified period. Writing a paper
Fair To check the content, language and formatting of a draft, incorporate agreed changes, and prepare it for onward clearance or circulation. Writing a paper
First principles The fundamental objectives, constraints and truths from which a problem or policy is reasoned, rather than relying only on inherited practice. Writing a paper
Fit for purpose Suitable and good enough for its intended use and operating conditions; not necessarily the most advanced or perfect option. Writing a paper Procurement & projects
For discussion A label indicating that the matter is being brought forward for deliberation, usually before a final recommendation or decision. Writing a paper
For info A label indicating that the recipient is being informed and is not ordinarily being asked to take action or make a decision. Writing a paper
FutureCraft CSF's workshop series for public officers covering signs of change, sense-making, assumptions, possible futures and scenario planning. Writing a paper
FYIP For Your Information Please Starting in Public Service Writing a paper
Green Paper A preliminary discussion or consultation document usually issued before the Government formulates a policy. Writing a paper
Grievance Debates Another name for Committee of Supply debates, where MPs use cut motions to question ministries' policies and programmes. Writing a paper
Ground realities The practical conditions, constraints, behaviours and lived experiences that affect how a policy or programme works outside the paper design. Writing a paper Working across agencies
GTT Government Terms Translated Writing a paper
Guillotine A parliamentary procedure setting a deadline for specified business, after which outstanding questions are put without further debate. Writing a paper
Hansard The parliamentary term for Singapore’s Official Report of debates, speeches and proceedings. Writing a paper Starting in Public Service
IM Instruction Manual Writing a paper
Implementation is policy A Public Service maxim that implementation choices and administrative details materially shape whether a policy succeeds and how it is experienced. Starting in Public Service Writing a paper
Implementation paper A paper translating an agreed strategy or proposal into implementation arrangements, including responsibilities, sequencing, resources, risks and timelines. Writing a paper
KIV Informal shorthand for ‘keep in view’: hold an item for later review rather than close it or act on it immediately. Starting in Public Service Writing a paper
Ministerial Statement A statement made in Parliament by a Minister regarding the Government’s policy or decision. Writing a paper Understanding the hierarchy
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
Moment of Interruption The prescribed point when a parliamentary sitting ends and unfinished business is interrupted and deferred unless exempted. Writing a paper
Nil return A required response stating that there is nothing to report, submit or declare for the specified period or request. Writing a paper
Notice Paper A parliamentary document listing questions, motions, Bills and other business for which notice has been given for a future sitting. Writing a paper Understanding the hierarchy
On this day six months A parliamentary amendment replacing 'now' in a Bill's Second Reading motion; if carried, the Second Reading is defeated. Writing a paper
OP Order Paper Writing a paper Starting in Public Service
OSA Official Secrets Act 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
Parliamentary Paper A document formally presented to Parliament under law or otherwise for Members' information and use. Writing a paper
PQ Parliamentary Question Writing a paper
Pre-Cab Pre-Cabinet meeting Understanding the hierarchy Writing a paper
President's Recommendation A constitutional recommendation required before Parliament considers certain Bills or amendments affecting government borrowing, guarantees or the Consolidated Fund. Writing a paper
PSFI Please See for Information Starting in Public Service Writing a paper
Push up To send a paper, request or issue to the next officer or authority in its clearance chain. Writing a paper
Putting the Question The parliamentary act of the Chair formally presenting a motion to the House for decision and taking the vote after debate. Writing a paper
RCT Randomised Controlled Trial Writing a paper
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
Regulatory sandbox A controlled trial arrangement for testing innovative products or business models within defined boundaries, safeguards and an exit plan. Writing a paper
Robust Strong and well-designed enough to continue working or withstand scrutiny, variation, failure or challenge. Writing a paper
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
SFI See for Information Starting in Public Service Writing a paper
Sign-off An informal umbrella term for obtaining the required management review or decision on a paper, email, proposal or deliverable. Writing a paper
Sit on this To hold a matter without acting, circulating or deciding on it for the time being, usually because more thought, information or timing is needed. Starting in Public Service Writing a paper
Sleep on it To defer a decision or response so there is time to think it through, often overnight, before committing to a view. Starting in Public Service Writing a paper
Sound out To raise something informally or test views before deciding how far to take it, often by speaking to the relevant people before formal staffing or escalation. Starting in Public Service Writing a paper Working across agencies
SP+ Scenario Planning Plus Writing a paper
Statute Paper A document that a ministry or statutory body is legally required to present to Parliament. Writing a paper
Subsidiary Legislation Orders, regulations, notifications, by-laws or other instruments made under an Act, Ordinance or another lawful authority. Writing a paper
Take a view To form and own a considered position, judgement or recommendation on an issue, rather than only presenting information or forwarding the question. Writing a paper
TER Tender Evaluation Report Procurement & projects Writing a paper
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
ToC Theory of Change Writing a paper Procurement & projects
Track changes To turn on Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature so insertions, deletions and formatting edits are recorded for review. Writing a paper
Unknown unknowns Risks, conditions or factors that have not been identified and are therefore outside the assumptions currently being considered. Writing a paper Starting in Public Service
Votes and Proceedings The official minutes of the proceedings and decisions of Parliament, including proceedings of a Committee of the whole Parliament. Writing a paper Understanding the hierarchy
White Paper A Government policy document issued to explain or discuss a matter, often presented for debate in Parliament. Writing a paper Understanding the hierarchy