Jokes about civil servants, paper pushers, the world of “Yes, Prime Minister” are centuries old and shared around the globe. Citizens pray for better and keep praying.

Let me introduce you to somebody who has shown how government can act differently and with permanent success. Idan Bar Tal is an intelligent investment broker, practically unknown outside Israel’s commercial community. Four years ago, he was summoned by the then incumbent Minister of Communications, Moshe Kahlon, to become the Director General. To a skeptical public, they promised a cheaper mobile service and a greater choice of servers.

To the surprise of the whole of the country – except for established mobile providers and their shareholders – our heros achieved their target. Prices have plummeted. Further, they have also ensured that fibre optic services are available via the national electricity grid – another major structural improvement.

So what was the secret? How did they push aside vested interests of the industry and within the ministry?

In a recent interview with a Hebrew newspaper, Ben Tal recalled an initial briefing, when he was brand new at the ministry. Within five minutes, he appreciated that his power base of 150 people and 8 separate departments lacked an operations manager. In any effective commercial organisation, one needs that person to bring everything together. Ben Tal soon rectified that situation.

His second observation was that his deputies were often his enemies. They were used to a DG leaving after a year and thus they were rarely required to prove their stature. In fact, it was near impossible to replace them with people of talent, who wished to show it off to the world. In order to shake things up, Ben Tal simply stopped renewing the contracts of certain ‘assistants’.

My phone bill was halved about two years ago. If I want to, I can shave off another 20%, but it is my choice to stay (for now) with my current server.

Now look around you. Why is your favourite government ministry not effective?