eGovernment Archives - Page 2 of 2

The End of Government… as We Know It: Making Public Policy Work

In the last decades of the 20th century, many political leaders declared that government was, in the words of Ronald Reagan, “the problem, not the solution.” But on closer inspection, argues Elaine Kamarck, the revolt against “government” was and is a revolt against bureaucracy – a revolt that has taken place in first world, developing, and avowedly communist countries alike. To some, this looks like the end of government. Kamarck, however, counters that what we are seeing is the replacement of the traditional bureaucratic approach with new models more in keeping with the information age economy. “The End of Government” explores the emerging contours of this new, postbureaucratic state – the sequel to government as we know it – considering: What forms will it take? Will it work in all policy arenas? Will it serve democratic ideals more effectively than did the bureaucratic state of the previous century? Perhaps most significantly, how will leadership be redefined in these new circumstances? Kamarck’s provocative work makes it clear that, in addition to figuring out what to do, today’s government leaders face an unprecedented number of options when it comes to how to do things. The challenge of government increasingly will be to choose an implementation mode, match it to a policy problem, and manage it well in the postbureaucratic world.

If We Can Put a Man on the Moon…: Getting Big Things Done in Government

The American people are frustrated with their government-dismayed by a series of high-profile failures (Iraq, Katrina, the financial meltdown) that seems to just keep getting longer. Yet our nation has a proud history of great achievements: victory in World War II, our national highway system, welfare reform, the moon landing. We need more successes like these to reclaim government’s legacy of competence. In If We Can Put a Man on the Moon, William Eggers and John O’Leary explain how to do it. The key? Understand-and avoid-the common pitfalls that trip up public-sector leaders during the journey from idea to results. At a time of unprecedented challenges, this book, with its abundant examples and hands-on advice, is the essential guide to making our government work better. A must-read for every public official, this book will be of interest to anyone who cares about the future of democracy.

The Art of Public Strategy: Mobilizing Power and Knowledge for the Common Good

The strategies adopted by governments and public officials can have dramatic effects on peoples’ lives. The best ones can transform economic laggards into trailblazers, eliminate diseases, or sharply cut crime. Strategic failures can result in highly visible disasters, like the shrinking of the Russian economy in the 1990s, or the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. This book is about how strategies take shape, and how money, people, technologies, and public commitment can be mobilized to achieve important goals. It considers the common mistakes made, and how these can be avoided, as well as analysing the tools governments can use to meet their goals, from targets and behavior change programs, to innovation and risk management. Written by Geoff Mulgan, a former head of policy for the UK prime minister, and advisor to governments round the world, it is packed with examples, and shaped by the author’s practical experience. The author shows that governments which give more weight to the long-term are not only more likely to leave their citizens richer, healthier, and safer; they’re also better protected from being blown off course by short-term pressures.