Return to Article: Presidential candidates' management agendas -- or lack thereof -- scrutinized
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56719
Why are so many people surprised by this? This is what happens when you have 2 U.S. senators who have never managed anything other than their personal checkbooks running for President! At least governors have experience managing state budgets, personnel, policies, etc., as do business executives. If you want managers who can handle the Executive bureaucracy, you need to nominate someone with management experience!
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56690
NO MORE political appointees PLEASE! Staff with govt SES employees and have them work to fullfill their agency missions. Presidential agenda's ONLY add to existing wotrk loads ONLY to be lost when the next guy moves in. This 'excercise' wastes money, talent, time and energy by all the fed workers involved!
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56645
Paul was too broad in his generalizations and has perhaps forgotten a little. Here's a reminder.
Actually, the last two administrations have continued many projects. What was different was that the Clinton-Gore administration continued emphasis on TQM through the National Partnership for Reinventing Government, The Federal Quality Consulting Group and the annual Reinvention Revolution conferences.
The Bush Administration simply picked and renamed the projects or measures that it was interested in and announced those as "new'. The traffic light measures came from NPR.
Both candidates can count on a very experienced public service corps that will help the newvos or the returning career or political appointees to transition into government service.
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56640
McCain and Obama should both be nonpartisan in improving the management of the federal government. The last strategic overhaul of the U.S. government was the 1948 Hoover Commission. Agencies and programs are inherently ineffective and wasteful. Whether you like a program or hate it, no one is for wasting tax dollars. It is time for a new Hoover Commission. Existing private studies and hundreds of GAO and Inspector General reports can guide this effort. Both candidates should pledge that this would be a top priority.
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56636
It never ceases to amaze me that those with good federal jobs always complain the loudest. Try working in industry where you are just as short handed and are "expected" to work evenings and weekends. If you complain, you are gone. Enjoy your luxury and count your blessings. There are many out there whot would kill to have your job.
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56630
Only bureaucrats worry this nonsense!! Look government service isn't rocket science its mundane, zero risk and filled with people who's first answer to everything is either "we've never done it that way" or "its not in my job description so there fore don't ask me" I love the post gov't employees keep being told to do more with less... its obvious the poster has never looked at an appropriation bill. CS is the only sector in the economy that continues to grow and suck up more tax payer dollars. The only way to fix it is thru A76 or a a minimum PFP ala NSPS
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56628
The dysfunctionality of government can not be blamed solely upon the incompetence or malevalance of the politicos. We career employees, and our unions, are also responsible. We continue to operate programs that aren't working as well as intended, without making modifications, improvements, or change. In a system where there is no reward for risk-taking, inertia becomes the principal momentum.
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56626
There will be a potential for management problems regardless of who gets elected. Senators are not executives, which is why they don't get elected president very often. Each candidate would be wise to pick a running mate with executive expereience to help him manage the government.
I don't think that the privatization of government jobs has worked well and I don't think it's good for the government. Federal employees have the corporate memory of the government and keep essential functions going from one administation to the next. Contracts run out, new constractors replace old contractors, and corporate memory gets lost.
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56611
This is a good observation on the part of Mr. Stier:"...a single question on government operations." However, the statement by Paul Light about "...the cascade of problems we've had over the past six months with government performance..." actually speaks more to the Administration than the lowly bureaucrats. With all the wasteful spending on the war effort and lack of adequate oversight, the programs that support everyday Americans have suffered. I have witnessed federal employees who are passionate about their service to the American people and provide outstanding service despite fewer resources. The stress level within the federal service has absolutely grown over these past 8 years. If it wasn't for the old fashioned concept of "public service" that these people feel committed, the American public would not have known about some of the abuses of power that have occurred. Federal employees have been told over and over to do more with less to the point of adnauseam and the idea that contracting out as an operational strategy is not the answer. While the traffic light tool was a simple one, the process contained inherent flaws and failed miserably to provide any type of meaningful measure. "The campaigns ought to be looking to fill the [chief executive officer] positions with management professionals, prioritizing management experience over political connections," Stier said. It would be a breath of fresh air if the senior positions were actually to be filled with individuals possessing the needed education and experience. The so called "talent development" focus of this current Administration has been a farce seeing individuals WITH the correct credentials and experience stepped over again and again for the "friends" of the selecting official. Yes, I support the idea that the candidates need to share with all of us how they plan to approach the management of this vast work force. The American people also should be interested. After all, it IS their tax dollars at work!
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56592
If McCain becomes our next President, get ready for MaxHR.
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56563
If you are a Federal employee and voted for Bush then you are to blame for this mess. If you vote for McCain you will have voted yourself out of a job. Please refer to paragraph 4 in this article.
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56545
Yes, this is quite important. That McCain wants to continue to outsourse and bring in "talented" business leaders is a big source of concern to me! If a talented business leader could reorg so there's less bureacratic wasteful nonsenses - terrific; but if they come in just to cut, cut, cut then NO NO NO! We are already overloaded with work. And, he wants to easily get rid of poor performers -- though I too am annoyed by those who don't carry their weight, I don't want it to be easy for some manager with a grudge to get rid of someone... Obama needs to speak about his management agenda for civil servants.
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