Recent articles by Shelley Metzenbaum from governing.com http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=87483887 Shelley Metzenbaum was a GOVERNING contributor. She is the director of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston. Better Budget Talk http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/Better-Budget-Talk.html Performance reporting offers a better way to explain painful trade-offs. Communicating the Counts http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/Communicating-the-Counts.html Performance measures needn't be feared. Publicizing the data in the right way can benefit government agencies and the public. Count Your Blessings? Sure, But Count Your Problems Too http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/Count-Your-Blessings-Sure.html Government agencies that embrace problems rather than avoid them turn out to be highly effective, writes Shelley Metzenbaum. Dare to Compare http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/Dare-to-Compare.html Resistance to comparison is understandable, but unfortunate and self-defeating. When done well, writes Shelley Metzenbaum, comparison is a powerful tool for improving performance. Goal Power http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/Goal-Power.html A well-framed goal has tremendous power in driving government accomplishments to new heights. So, asks Shelley Metzenbaum, what makes some goals effective performance drivers and others ineffective? Intergovernmental Intelligence http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/Intergovernmental-Intelligence.html Oversight of stimulus spending is important, but just as critical is sharing knowledge and experiences Irksome Incentives http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/Irksome-Incentives.html Government agencies need to get smarter about how to implement individual and organizational incentives, writes Shelley Metzenbaum. Take the Time to Ask the Time http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/Take-the-Time-to.html By "time stamping" data, government managers can use that data to operate their programs more effectively and efficiently. Measuring Efficiency Efficiently http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/Measuring-Efficiency-Efficiently.html Such mandates often waste money on calculations that reveal little.