Governance co-ordination challenges in the UK’s ‘mission-led government’

IMPACTMission-led approaches are being implemented in many developed nations, notably in the UK, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and Australia. They are also evident in international policy programmes, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Mission-led approaches have their roots in the literature on innovation policy. In the translation of these academic theories into a policy programme, the mission-led approach has progressed rapidly from a technical strategy for science and innovation policy to a new paradigm for governing society. However, existing research points to an under-engagement with the wider literature on governance and public policy, as well as a tendency for practitioners to oversimplify mission-led approaches. By exploring the UK’s ‘mission-led government’ agenda, this article considers the extent to which this approach offers solutions to longstanding governance co-ordination challenges. It also draws out key lessons for policy-makers seeking to mobilize missions in the face of such challenges.