STORMONT will have to be more open and cooperative if it is to succeed in fixing public services, a new think tank has warned.
A report from Pivotal says past regional administrations "lacked a common purpose, avoided difficult choices, and did not plan properly for the long-term".
The think tank's Good Government in Northern Ireland report says Stormont has suffered from major problems, including a divided executive with departments working in silos, inadequate scrutiny from the assembly, and too many decisions taken behind closed doors.
This culture led to problems with public services, doubts about officials' competence and allegations of scandalous behaviour by ministers, special advisers and others, Pivotal says.
The report argues that the New Decade, New Approach deal is a "good starting point" but does not go far enough.
It lists 10 features of good government and the ways Stormont could work to fulfil them.
The solutions include making tough choices in areas such as health and social care; long-term planning and creating a "true vision" of what future public services should look like; and engagement with organisations outside government.
Pivotal director Ann Watt said the commitments in New Decade, New Approach were welcome but that making them happen would require a "change in culture".
"Previous governments too often failed to deliver on commitments – that cannot continue to happen, especially given the current state of health, education, the economy and more," she said.
“To put us on track for the future, politicians need to plan for the long-term, stop avoiding the tough choices, and have a relentless focus on improving the public services that impact directly on people’s lives."
