Author Archive
Management
Veterans Benefits Administration May Be Having Its Best Year Ever
Despite having to make operational changes, the agency has exceeded performance targets set before the pandemic.
Management
Many Agencies Aren’t Ready to Manage in a New World
A recent report provides a framework for improving management quality and ensuring better outcomes for federal programs.
Tech
The Early Internet Years in Government Are a Model For Fostering Innovation
It’s critical to begin with a compelling vision for how life could be made better for the end user.
Oversight
Where’s the Money? Keep an Eye on the CARES Act
With the passage of the $2.3 trillion economic relief bill, things are happening at breakneck speed.
Oversight
A Framework for National Recovery From COVID-19
There's a path forward drawing on lessons from the 2009 stimulus coupled with the Australian approach to coronavirus.
Management
Performance Management: An Emphasis on Learning
The trick is getting front-line managers to see value in fostering a learning-driven, problem-solving approach to improving performance.
Management
Performance Management: The Emphasis on Accountability
Clear goals, transparently pursued can be a powerful tool to drive output-oriented performance, but there are caveats.
Featured eBooks
Management
When Bigger Is Better
Validating public policy outcomes is critical, but so is building on the evidence. A new study looks at what’s needed to expand successful programs.
Management
Reinventing Government: Learning From a Principle-Driven Reform Initiative
Creating a reform agenda that allows civil servants to be part of the reform can be a huge force-multiplier.
Management
Reducing Administrative Burden, aka ‘Death by a Thousand 10-Minute Tasks’
Since 1991, the federal government has imposed 110 new requirements on university research grant recipients.
Management
The Individuals Behind Government's Success Stories
The recent history of government reforms provides important lessons for leaders.
Management
The GREAT Act: Scaling the Tower of Babel
A bewildering array of forms and data elements across multiple agency reporting systems needlessly complicates grants management. That’s about to change.
Management
Data Evangelists Spread the Word on Boosting Government Performance
A recent gathering of state and local officials had the feel of an old time revival.
Management
Laboratories of Democracy in Action: Investing in What Works
The mere availability of information is not enough to get policy makers to actually use it.
Featured eBooks
Management
Learning to be a Leader
A professional development seminar series open to all federal employees has helped thousands of feds connect across government.
Management
When Performance Goals Backfire
Ambitious goals can be motivational, but they also can incentivize unethical behavior.
Management
Why Agencies Need to Tap the Revolutionary Potential of Behavioral Science
Traditional policy tools, such as taxes, subsidies and regulations, are not always very effective in changing social behavior.
Management
Creating a Critical Mass of Talent and Resources
There are people at all levels of government experienced in using behavioral science to improve program effectiveness. Officials need to seek them out.
Management
Nudge in the City: Using Science to Improve Public Services
Cutting-edge technology is nice, but sometimes just changing the size of a mailing envelope can determine whether a program is successful.
Management