Posts Tagged: performance

GAO Outlines National Indicator System

GAO revisited a report it did in 2004 on creating a comprehensive indicator system to track the progress of our nation’s economy, people’s health, social well-being, and the environment. GAO looks at 20 different system used by other countries and by states and localities and offers a road map on how to develop a nationalRead… Read more »

Creating “Virtual Agencies”

When I worked for Vice President Gore’s reinventing government initiative, he told us “don’t move the boxes, fix what’s inside the boxes.” He also talked expansively about creating “virtual agencies” organized around the needs of each individual citizen. We had no idea what he was talking about when he was describing the Virtual Department ofRead… Read more »

Where Is Waldo?

George Washington University professor Kathy Newcomer likened the Obama Administration’s performance agenda to a game of “Where is Waldo?” at a Brookings Institution forum last week on improving government performance. She says “you have to look carefully” to find it. She said there was no orchestrated campaign with a band leading the way. Newcomer’s insightRead… Read more »

GPRA Mod: A Flurry of Activity

Obama signed the GPRA Modernization Act in January. While OMB has yet to issue any formal guidance to agencies on what they should do, there has been a flurry of conferences, forums, and seminars that have focused on the new law’s meaning and intent. In the past month, I’ve participated in more than a halfRead… Read more »

Forget the Review: Just Give Me My Raise Already!

Isn’t that what happens in government under the current Grade-Step system? People basically advance in career and compensation based on years in office vs. quality of performance. At least that’s the overall perception of public sector pay among citizens…and OPM Director John Berry: The current review process “seems to take place in Garrison Keillor’s LakeRead… Read more »

On Becoming a “Word Artist” on Stage and Page: How to ASPIRE-2 – Critical Components of “Excellence”

Hi, In between working on the Gentoring ™ concept, I’m finishing my essay on ASPIRE-2. Email if you missed Part I which focused on the first six (ASP) “creativity” characteristics — Aggression & Accessibility Symbol & Synthesis Poignant & Playful Imagery & Irony Risk-Taking and Rhythm ‘n Rhyme Expressive & Excellence To read this essayRead… Read more »

Gumby Goes to the White House

President Obama signed a memo to all agency heads yesterday with an unwieldy title: “Administrative Flexibility, Lower Costs, and Better Results for State, Local, and Tribal Governments.’ But it contains the seeds of a potential shift in how the federal government works, if implemented smartly. Over the years, presidents have directed agencies to streamline theirRead… Read more »

Obama’s FY 2012 Management Initiatives

Attention to the FY 2012 budget’s performance and management initiatives have been overwhelmed by the enormity of the proposed budget cuts by both the President and the Congress, and the resolution of the pending FY 2011 continuing resolution. For the most part, the management section of the budget, reflects a continued commitment to initiatives initiallyRead… Read more »

Customer Dissatisfaction

If you ran a business and only 65 percent of your customers were satisfied, do you think you’d stay in business very long? That’s what a recent survey found from customers of many federal agencies, and their customers aren’t happy! In response, Cong. Henry Cuellar re-introduces his customer service enhancement bill. The annual federal customerRead… Read more »