Recent articles by John O'Leary from governing.com http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=87483997 John O'Leary is a former GOVERNING contributor. He is co-author of "If We Can Put a Man on the Moon: Getting Big Things Done in Government." Creating Cross-Boundary Teams http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/creating-cross-boundary-teams.html Instead of a single government entity trying to solve a problem, cross-boundary collaboration allows a whole group of players to tackle tough policy challenges. Better Disaster Preparedness and Recovery http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/better-disaster-preparedness-recovery.html Don't wait for disaster to strike -- or for feds to arrive -- to prepare for a catastrophe. Homeownership with a Happy Ending http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/housing/Homeownership-with-a-Happy-Ending.html Massachusetts helps marginal earners become first-time homeowners. The Complexity Conundrum http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/government-complexity-conundrum.html When it comes to dealing with the unexpected, government struggles. In order to address the nation's greatest public challenges, government needs to destroy its bureaucracies. Accountability, Bureaucracy and Ideology http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/accountability-bureaucracy-ideology.html Is public-sector accountability a pipe dream, or an excuse to gut government? Prevent the Project to Nowhere http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/prevent-project-nowhere.html The humble project plan can help avoid the anguish that comes with a poorly envisioned project. Progressive? Not Anymore. http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/progressive-not-anymore.html BFC Contributor Stephen Goldsmith's column in the Wall Street Journal outlines how the legacy rules of the Progressive Era are crippling government operations. Self-Service Savings http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/government-self-service-savings.html The theory seems to be that automation is a bad thing because it eliminates good jobs. Inefficiency, however, simply isn't good public policy. Fair Pay for Public Employees: A Question of Efficiency http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/fair-pay-public-employees-efficiency.html Designing a compensation system that is both fair and promotes efficiency is a real challenge. Fair Pay for Public Employees: A Question of Efficiency Designing a compensation system that is both fair and promotes efficiency is a real challenge. Fair Pay for Public Employees: A Question of Efficiency Designing a compensation system that is both fair and promotes efficiency is a real challenge. Fair Pay for Public Employees: A Question of Efficiency Designing a compensation system that is both fair and promotes efficiency is a real challenge. Fair Pay for Public Employees: A Question of Efficiency Designing a compensation system that is both fair and promotes efficiency is a real challenge. Fair Pay for Public Employees: A Question of Efficiency Designing a compensation system that is both fair and promotes efficiency is a real challenge. Driving Change: Go Big or Go Home http://www.governing.com/topics/mgmt/Driving-Change-Go-Big.html Forget incremental improvement, create a team focused solely on change.