Synopses & Reviews
Are you dissatisfied with how your organization worksfrustrated by the complications of getting things done or the inability to show real results? Or are you part of a good organization, but want to make it a great one? If you answered yes to either of these questions, this book was written for you.
Creating High-Performance Government Organizations presents practical advice and tools that managers and innovators at every level of government can use in molding their organizations into results-oriented, mission-driven operations. Developed by a top-notch author team under the auspices of The Alliance for Redesigning Government, these recommendations are rooted in the authors years of experience in the public and private sectors, and thorough research into the theory and practice of organizational transformation. Most importantly, they draw upon the real-world experience of front-line innovators and ideas that were field tested through the team's work with an array of public agencies.
The more than three dozen cases presented here will help you understand what high-performance organizations are and develop a clearer understanding of the preconditions to major change, the steps essential to getting started, and ways to overcome common roadblocks. This book details the eight characteristics common to high-performance agencies, illustrating each with concrete examples. And chapters on budgeting, human resources, and procurement systems show you how these critical central management functions can be strengthened to support change, performance, and accountability.
Champions of innovation must also master the nuances of politicswithin and outside their organizations. The authors suggest specific rules of the road for taking politics into consideration in the process of changecues to guide you through the political maze.
In addition, this book will help you ask the right questions to monitor progress in building high performance into your agency. Organized around key steps, it offers public administration professionals the insights and tools to jump-start and sustain the change necessary to creating high-performance organizations.
Review
"The experienced author team represented here has crafted a "how-to" guide for creating the type of organization which taxpayers are demanding today in the public sector?vision focused, responsive, resource-conscious, and above all, results-oriented." (?Terrell Blodgett, former Mike Hogg professor of urban management, LBJ School of Public Affairs, and associate director, Policy Research Institute, University of Texas)
"This book is a long-awaited roadmap--the big 'why' picture, practical tips, barriers and strategies, glimpses of fascinating potentials of high performance government organizations. Those who read and use it will be society builders in the truest sense." (?Neal Peirce, chair, The Citistates Group, author, and syndicated columnist, Washington Post Writers Group)
"This is the most challenging time for public management that I have seen in my 35 years of public and non-profit service. The ?survivors,' ten years from now, will be working in systems they could not possibly imagine now. They will have gotten there not just by luck, but by the full commitment of all members of their organizations and by dramatically different methods of public engagement. This book is an excellent resource for starting that journey and for assessing the progress of efforts to date." (?James Kunde, executive director, Coalition to Improve Management in State and Local Government)
Synopsis
Are you dissatisfied with how your organization works?frustrated by the complications of getting things done or the inability to show real results? Or are you part of a good organization, but want to make it a great one? If you answered yes to either of these questions, this book was written for you.
Creating High-Performance Government Organizations presents practical advice and tools that managers and innovators at every level of government can use in molding their organizations into results-oriented, mission-driven operations. Developed by a top-notch author team under the auspices of The Alliance for Redesigning Government, these recommendations are rooted in the authors? years of experience in the public and private sectors, and thorough research into the theory and practice of organizational transformation. Most importantly, they draw upon the real-world experience of front-line innovators and ideas that were field tested through the team's work with an array of public agencies.
The more than three dozen cases presented here will help you understand what high-performance organizations are and develop a clearer understanding of the preconditions to major change, the steps essential to getting started, and ways to overcome common roadblocks. This book details the eight characteristics common to high-performance agencies, illustrating each with concrete examples. And chapters on budgeting, human resources, and procurement systems show you how these critical central management functions can be strengthened to support change, performance, and accountability.
Champions of innovation must also master the nuances of politics?within and outside their organizations. The authors suggest specific rules of the road for taking politics into consideration in the process of change?cues to guide you through the political maze.
In addition, this book will help you ask the right questions to monitor progress in building high performance into your agency. Organized around key steps, it offers public administration professionals the insights and tools to jump-start and sustain the change necessary to creating high-performance organizations.
Synopsis
This is the most challenging time for public management that I have seen in my 35 years of public and non-profit service. The ?survivors,' ten years from now, will be working in systems they could not possibly imagine now. They will have gotten there not just by luck, but by the full commitment of all members of their organizations and by dramatically different methods of public engagement. This book is an excellent resource for starting that journey and for assessing the progress of efforts to date.
?James Kunde, executive director, Coalition to Improve Management in State and Local Government
Creating High-Performance Government Organizations presents practical advice and tools that managers and innovators at every level of government can use in molding their organizations into results-oriented, mission-driven operations. Developed by a top-notch author team under the auspices of The Alliance for Redesigning Government, these recommAndations are rooted in the authors' years of experience in the public and private sectors, and thorough research into the theory and practice of organizational transformation.
The more than three dozen cases presented here will help you understand what high-performance organizations are and develop a clearer understanding of the preconditions to major change, the steps essential to getting started, and ways to overcome common roadblocks along the way.
About the Author
THE ALLIANCE FOR REDESIGNING GOVERNMENT, part of the National Academy of Public Administration, is dedicated to improving government by linking the many thousands of people who are actively creating better ways to govern, learning from their efforts, and building tools for change.
Table of Contents
MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF IMPROVING GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE.
Understanding High-Performance Organizations.
Challenges and Opportunities for Change in the Public Sector.
Mastering the Politics of Change.
KEY STEPS IN PLANNING FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE.
Preparing the Way for Change.
Crafting Your Vision, Mission, and Values.
Conducting Useful Organizational Assessments.
Designing a Results-Driven Plan for Change.
STRENGTHENING CENTRAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT HIGH PERFORMANCE.
An Introduction to High-Performance Central Management Systems.
High-Performance Budgeting Systems.
High-Performance Human Resource Systems.
High-Performance Procurement Systems.