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Our president has the opportunity to set policy that improves government management, operations, and execution. Experienced public managers offer suggestions to get it done.
Four years ago, in the spring 2008 issue of this journal, I had the opportunity to organize and present a special forum, "A Management Agenda for the Next President." That work was based on a four-part initiative, consisting of small group seminars, a publications program, coalition and collaboration activities, and a website devoted to new ideas in government. All were guided by Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group, the firm's strategy and consulting arm.
In that issue, we outlined where and how our next government should be different. The ideas were grouped into five categories: human resources, technology, acquisition, execution, and a vision for the 21st century government. At that time we argued: "There is no reason the government cannot operate with as much speed, responsiveness, and resiliency as the private sector. In fact, there is no reason government should not be the leader when it comes to technology, human capital management, and service delivery."
I write this as we approach the 2012 presidential and congressional elections. The words Professor Donald Kettl wrote in the opening article of that forum ring ominously: "Never before have we so badly needed new and big ideas on government management, and never before have we so badly needed strong managers and leaders in government. Never before have we been so bereft of both."
In this special forum, Professor Paul Posner of George Mason University has assembled some of the nation's top management and public administration minds, drawing from the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA). Our next president has the opportunity to set policy that improves government management, operations, and execution.
This special forum outlines how it can be done and presents some of those "new and big ideas" on such topics as financial and budget reform, intergovernmental relations, technology and transparency, reorganization, and so on. We hope these articles can begin an important dialogue in the upcoming transition.