Recent articles by Feather O'Connor Houstoun from governing.com http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=87483737 Feather O'Connor Houstoun is a senior adviser to the Wyncote Foundation and is a member of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission. Harnessing Flexibility in the Delivery of Human Services http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-flexibility-delivery-human-services-block-grant.html Despite an accompanying funding cut, a block-granting experiment in Pennsylvania is showing promise for improving the way vulnerable populations are helped. Public Management and the Challenge of the Last Mile of Service Delivery http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-public-management-service-delivery-challenge-last-mile.html Sometimes even the best program design and execution fail to get a government service to a recipient who needs it. There are ways to overcome those final hurdles. How Two Princetons Became One http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-princeton-new-jersey-consolidation-service-sharing-lessons.html Taking advantage of a state law encouraging local-government consolidations, the two New Jersey municipalities found a path that other places might follow. Can 'Talent Injection' Remake Social Services? http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-talent-injection-stoneleigh-foundation-social-services.html A foundation's experiment with providing experts to public agencies is showing promise as a way to make a big difference at a relatively modest cost. Shared Services and the Velveteen Rabbit Factor http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-shared-services-jurisdiction-identity-velveteen-rabbit.html One of the biggest barriers to consolidating service delivery is a jurisdiction's fear that it will lose its individual identity. There are ways to deal with that. Harnessing the Strength of Teams http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-teams-public-agencies-framework.html Talk of teamwork in public agencies is often just that — a lot of talk. Making them work is about getting the framework right. Collective Impact and the Modern City http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-philadelphia-zoning-development-collaboration.html Tireless collaboration led to a revamped development process that promises to help revitalize Philadelphia. A Portfolio of Schools http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-portfolio-school-charter-district-run-management-challenge.html Treating district-run schools and charters the same promises to turn traditional education administration inside out. Moneyball Government http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/moneyball-evidence-based-government-decision-making-lessons.html The way evidence-based analysis—rather than what ‘passes for wisdom’—turned a losing baseball team into a winner has powerful lessons for government decision-making. The Fiscal Conversation We Need http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/budget-stress-structural-service-delivery-discussion-public-enterprise.html The budget stress that governments face now is structural, not cyclical. What’s called for is an examination of the entire public enterprise. Collaboration Done Right http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/public-private-coalition-adoption-services-texas-collaboration.html A public-private coalition of adoption services in Texas is getting many more kids into homes and saving money in the process. Collaboration's Collective Impact http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/collaboration-collective-impact.html A successful program is one that effectively captures the interest of public and private entities. Increase Transparency and Efficiency in Government http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/increase-transparency-efficiency-government.html How? Foster transparency initiatives that make data actionable. Knowing What Works: Evaluating Evidence-Based Programs http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/evaluating-evidence-based-programs.html What if a program is not producing the results desired? Should state and local officials immediately scrap it? When 'Stat' Programs Meet the Ossified Enterprise http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/When-Stat-Programs-Meet.html All the measurements and accountability sessions in the world can miss the boat, writes Feather O'Connor Houstoun, if they don't inspire the redesign of broken systems.