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Better, Faster, Cheaper

A New York City program is showing striking success at keeping young offenders from returning to jail.

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To maintain voters' favorable opinion and trust, municipal leaders need to keep some things in mind.

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With all the new information governments have available, it's too easy to focus on improving existing processes rather than on better ways to address underlying problems.

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Local governments are turning to data-driven tools to meet growing waste management challenges.

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As San Jose has shown, it's as much about having the right people and organizational structures in place as it is about technology.

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Smart cities are paying more attention to the fixtures that define their streets, looking to improve mobility and maximize the value of these assets.

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As Seattle works to significantly and quickly boost affordable housing, it's finding better ways to engage residents in the process.

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New tools are being put to use to prepare workers for new trades and match them to a changing labor market.

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Chief data officers are not only working to solve their own cities' problems. They're working together to share their approaches among their peers.

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A nearly decade-long effort to consolidate vehicle services and improve operations has saved hundreds of millions of dollars.

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The thriving Canadian municipality of Mississauga is harnessing innovative technology and stakeholder buy-in to become a model for connected communities.

Commentary

A new online platform aims not only to take some of the risk out of municipal procurement but to make the process smarter as well.

Commentary

There are strong arguments for its proposals that would remove barriers to innovative financing and streamline the regulatory process.

Commentary

The cities that achieved the top grades in a new certification program have important things in common.

Commentary

Boston's CIO has worked to transform traditional bureaucratic procedures to speed the rollout of the latest mobile broadband infrastructure.

Commentary

The Des Moines school district has embraced the continuous improvement approach. It's making a lot of progress toward eliminating wasteful practices and transforming performance.

Commentary

Milwaukee's program focuses on quick, cost-effective improvements that give its streets years more service.

Commentary

Minnesota's efforts to bring diversity and inclusivity to its contracting and purchasing are setting the pace.

Commentary

As D.C. is demonstrating, it's a way to use evidence and rigorous research to produce better outcomes.

Commentary

Building out digital infrastructure raises a host of complex questions, from avoiding obsolescence to sorting through funding options.

Commentary

Atlanta turned to cross-departmental metrics to craft a shared-services arrangement for transporting detainees.

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They need to be nimbler than ever, looking for better ways to leverage local talent and institutions to ensure that their residents are the real winners.

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Cities shouldn't just work for their neediest citizens. They also should work with them.

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In transforming its public-education structure and bureaucracy, Indianapolis is showing that there is more than one route to excellence.

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Santa Monica is convinced that it can and should. It's putting a lot of effort into aligning services around that goal.

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Successful efficiency efforts have several important things in common, as three case studies illustrate.

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Redesigning a government website should be about more than attractiveness and easy navigation. It's a chance to reengineer underlying processes.

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A top-down view of transportation is important, but it's crucial to focus on the needs of individuals and underserved communities.

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Old models for managing urban transportation are insufficient. New options demand that we think in terms of mobility.

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Behaviorally informed interventions can improve outcomes. Louisville's approach shows the wisdom of starting small.

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Forget spreadsheets. Visualization is what residents need to be able to drive action on issues.

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St. Louis is looking at a public-private partnership. If the issues are properly addressed, it's an idea well worth considering.

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A new initiative aims to identify and codify approaches that make cities more effective.

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Governments looking for ways to improve efficiency now have access to a rich trove of good ideas and best practices.

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There are some key questions a city should ask itself before moving forward.

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Public agencies keep finding creative ways to leverage its power for service delivery.

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New analytical tools are allowing policymakers to focus on community wellness, not just on treating sickness.

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There's a lot of capital out there waiting to be deployed, but outdated regulations are standing in the way.

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We've just begun to tap the potential. What does 2017 have in store?

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South Bend is leveraging its higher-education assets and better use of data to begin turning things around.

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As one successful experiment has shown, giving educators the discretion to perform is key.

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A focus on making data accessible across the enterprise is the basis for organizational wisdom.

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It enables more efficient and effective government. The obstacles are often more rooted in folklore than in law.

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Diverting low-level, nonviolent offenders into treatment saves millions of dollars and makes our streets safer.

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Colorado's robust system for tracking the drug and its effects provides a glimpse of a better system of controls.

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Mississippi's capital is showing that you don't have to be a Chicago or a New York to make good things happen.

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Encouraging informed disagreement is the only way a public leader can learn whether an initiative might -- or might not -- succeed.

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By using data analytics to make decisions about pretrial detention, local governments could find substantial savings while making their communities safer.

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Philadelphia's former mayor explains the steps his city took to make effective use of data and bring it to bear on performance.

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Cities are learning to mine this trove of information to predict the impact of future events and significantly improve operations.

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Indianapolis' longtime mayor worked hard at crafting a big idea for his city, and it paid off handsomely.

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A project in Philadelphia used a streamlined approach to procurement to get quick results.

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The city is at the forefront of the emerging concept of mobility management.

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St. Paul took an unusual path to improving a vital public service, one that holds promise for other city operations.

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The technology that UPS uses to optimize its routes and achieve big savings shows how powerful data analytics could be across the public sector.

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Bloomberg Philanthropies is providing a useful roadmap for results-oriented governance.

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From parking meters to freeway lighting, governments are finding new ways to turn infrastructure liabilities into assets and improve services.

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Houston's mayor has set the pace for leveraging data-driven management to improve city-government efficiency.

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Nashville's former mayor led his city as a single, networked entity. His approach is paying off.

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Providence's new mayor has taken an innovative program for preschoolers launched by his predecessor and expanded it.

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What began as a niche innovation is creating a wider transformation of government culture.

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Empowered consumers and data analytics are driving cities to re-think how they protect health and safety.

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Far more than the public realizes, innovators are making extraordinary efforts in communities across America.

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The people who deliver services directly to the public know a lot. Denver is setting the pace for tapping that resource.

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Aiming to get more people into housing faster, the city is breaking down a lot of barriers.

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A pilot program that brought efficiency to restaurant inspections has broad potential for public health and safety.

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A new Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative aims to help 100 cities govern more effectively.

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Directing a city-government "i-team" demands distinctive traits that are unique to the process.

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Early signs are positive for the latest crop of big infrastructure public-private partnerships.

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The investment tool is catching on as a better, safer way to invest scarce public resources.

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Modern metering systems can save money and make water management more efficient. Local officials are finding ways to overcome obstacles to putting them in place.

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To get a P3 proposal to the finish line, public officials need to keep some important principles in mind.

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Another 14 cities are about to build their own "i-teams." No longer an experimental approach, it's a proven route to cross-cutting accomplishments.

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The Oregon city is using a special fund to spark new thinking in its agencies while minimizing financial risk.

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Mayor Mitch Landrieu has achieved remarkable results quickly with a systemic approach that relies on the effective use of data.

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Today's most innovative civic leaders are using technology to fulfill the promise of efficient and responsive local government.

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A new book provides a comprehensive picture of the performance-management practice that has taken the public sector by storm.

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New tools that make it easy to find and view government financial data are enabling big gains in efficiency and transparency.

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By investing in customer service and innovation, D.C. Water has done far more than simply rebrand an essential public service.

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By making all of its data easily and quickly available across agencies, the state stands to save money and improve services.

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Rather than just building more and bigger pipes, Columbus is taking a greener, more holistic approach.

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The city's new urban agriculture initiative aims to revitalize distressed neighborhoods with new economic activity.

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There are many lessons for public leaders in how a New York City park was brought back from chaos.

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Government-sponsored challenge competitions save money and harness the public's ingenuity to solve difficult problems.

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The city is using a variety of innovative approaches to leverage the tech sector and diversify a government-dependent economy.

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The botched rollout of the federal health exchange underlines the need for changes in how governments at all levels handle major technology projects.

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With a major effort to coordinate the needs of city departments, private utilities and residents, the city is tearing up its roadways less and saving a lot of money.

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Big data presents not only challenges but also the potential to radically improve what governments do. The need for a point person to manage that information and build strategies for using it is clear.

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Combining data with new analytics techniques can help governments react nimbly and purposefully. It's hard work, but the potential payoff is worth it.

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These customer-service systems are evolving into far more than a way to get a pothole filled or graffiti cleaned up.

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Roads and bridges and utilities should be financed, built and managed as the assets they are.

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Some cities are finding ways to create the urgency and political will to produce permanent pipelines of innovation.

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Louisville, Ky., is showing how a performance metrics initiative can transform a government's operational culture.

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The ever-growing volume of information created and captured by the modern digitized world is an opportunity for government to reinvent itself.

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Many of the top entrants for Innovations Awards demonstrate that technology applied creatively can shift governments from reactive service delivery to prescriptive solutions.

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It took just a year for Indiana officials to put together a major public-private bridge project. How did they do it?

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Small savings can add up to real money--and better services.

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To realize the most long-term value, governments must take a sensible approach to asset management.

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All government debt is not the same. Pension debt starves government of the people and tools it needs, but creative borrowing for infrastructure can save more money than it costs.

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Washington, D.C., is pioneering a system that takes performance and accountability to a new level.

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The FAA is working to transform the nation's air transportation system in dramatic ways, deploying new technology collaboratively with an array of stakeholders.

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To Mayor Sly James, the first-in-the-nation Google Fiber project is about a lot more than blazing-fast broadband.

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Innovative public officials and utility managers are finding cost-effective ways to fix our aging water systems and save billions of dollars in the process.

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Smart meters are playing a crucial role in speeding the recovery from Hurricane Sandy. They have the potential to do much more.

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Building on a successful tax break for Twitter, San Francisco's mayor is asking voters to change the way the city taxes businesses that create jobs.

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Traditional approaches reward activities, not results. Some innovative new approaches aim to turn that around through creative financing.

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Is the path to excellence paved by continuous improvement, transformation or both?

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The mayor's chief of staff describes how the city's aggressive pursuit of citizen-friendly tools aims to increase civic participation.

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Boston's Tom Menino may be an "urban mechanic," but he's taking that concept to new and exciting levels.

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Value engineering can reduce the costs of capital projects. But it also can save money over the long haul.

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In dealing with its combined-sewer-overflow problem, Philly is demonstrating a better approach to big infrastructure projects.

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Enforcing laws and regulations to collect fines isn’t just good for the bottom line. It’s fairer to honest citizens and businesses.

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San Diego’s mayor explains how financial catastrophe provided the seeds for major structural changes that the city needed to continue providing services.

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San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed explains what led up to voters’ approval of major changes to the city’s retirement system.

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What happened in San Diego and San Jose is likely to reverberate across the country. And it isn't all bad news for the public workforce.

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State and local governments are finding ways to cut spending while improving services. There are signs that the federal government is beginning to take notice.

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Much has been accomplished with the widespread deployment of these citizen-service systems. In the future, they will do much more.

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To attract the investment they need, cities need entities that can move both quickly and strategically.

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Citizen volunteers, properly deployed, can extend government’s reach quickly and effectively.

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Roy Ash, former director of the Office of Management and Budget, is gone, but his legacy is a profound change in the way we manage our governments.

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Tough times create an appetite for change. Nowhere has that been more true than in government this year.

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There is no shortage of innovative programs that can go a long way towards maintaining public confidence in our public institutions.

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As Washington argues about a federal approach to infrastructure, two Midwestern mayors are forging ahead with local solutions that focus strongly on economic development.

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What if, instead of waiting until problems occur, a city could address them before they happen?

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Some citizens just want to complain, but a lot them have good ideas for improving their neighborhoods and communities. A new social-media collaboration platform in NYC is helping citizens achieve that.

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Can dedicated teams deliver new solutions? A new grant program will test the concept in five cities.

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To increase minority and women contracting, New York City is working to remove obstacles that impede an efficient marketplace for goods and services.

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Finding a way to redevelop a contaminated site, such as a brownfield, is often the best solution, both environmentally and economically.

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When public officials fear bad press, it dampens innovation. Here are five principles to help leaders embrace change.

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Instead of thinking of how they can go green for less, local governments are jumping through expensive state and federal hoops.

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Actively engaging the crowd, even if it's sometimes rowdy, can actually enhance government's problem-solving ability.

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Social media is about more than socializing. It is a powerful tool for government to empower and mobilize its citizens.

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If cities are to see fewer dollars from states in these tough times, then they should see fewer rules too.

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When work is reduced to a routine, innovative breakthroughs that lead to better, faster, cheaper government become rare.

Management & Labor

Laws, arbitrary rulings and contracts keep employees locked in an unrewarding work environment.

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Creating a more efficient government first requires breaking open the internal silos that hamper collaboration and productivity.

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Is it government's obligation to provide services, or to see that they are provided?

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Public-sector unions and management mean well, but they often fail to reward those actually doing the work: front-line employees.

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When public officials seek to totally eliminate risk in the wake of a tragedy, you can be certain they're not thinking about the high cost of no risk.

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The fiscal crisis demands change. It’s time for a Post-Progressive Era, one predicated on creating public value as efficiently as possible.

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As the damaged BP oil well continues to spew millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico, these four lessons will challenge officials to rethink how risk is mitigated and regulated.

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A professional, independent municipal CFO can be a strong protector of taxpayer interest. At the same time, they can also be a source of sand in the gears of government.

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Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson has created COOL, an innovative retail-focused economic development program.

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Implementing a long-term strategy to address a major problem like crime or illiteracy is a difficult and risky proposition for a mayor.

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Public officials need to strike the right balance between dealing with the daily emergencies and leading structural improvements in how government delivers essential services.

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As elected officials contemplate a “new normal” where financial needs and wants will substantially outstrip financial resources for years, it’s worth asking how public executives should organize their administrations to address this systemic challenge.

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To survive these challenging times, leaders must embrace a relentless commitment to better, faster and cheaper government.

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In January, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger basically refused to give his State of the State Address during his State of the State Address: "It doesn't make...

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Contrary to stereotypes, governments innovate. Public officials, and the non-profit and for-profit partners they work with, are continuously developing creative approaches to solving difficult challenges....

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Atlanta tried a four day work week. The Santa Clara jail now takes reservations--for visitors, not inmates--greatly streamlining the process. New York City is creating...

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Green is good. But right now there isn't enough of the "green stuff" to go around. Which is why the column by Lynn Scarlett is...

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Municipal "311" systems have transformed the way cities hear about problems like broken street lights and car crunching potholes. But a column by Zach Tumin of...

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Private investors in the Indiana Toll Road have taken a bath. In April, a $2.5 billion deal to lease Chicago's Midway Airport to a private operator...

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Private companies think about their "value proposition" all the time. What are we doing for our customers that make them happy to pay our price?...

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In honor of Labor Day, we are happy to share with readers a column from Andy Stern, the president of the Service Employees International Union....

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Anyone looking for inspiration would have found it at the Innovations in American Government Awards dinner, held tonight in Washington DC. I wish I could...

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Without innovation there is stagnation. While much of the media focus belongs to those public endeavors that belly-flop, the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and...

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Last week, Harvard Kennedy School through its Innovations in American Government Awards Program recognized a group of government programs for their contribution to the public...

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The notion of organizing government services around customer needs has been around for a long time--but mostly in the form of a hoped for goal...

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A few years ago Harvard Kennedy School recognized the Department of Justice Global HTML project that simply by defining data protocols dramatically improved the ability...

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All public managers are aware of the Washington Monument ploy--where the agency faced with a deficit threatens to close an iconic or critical public activity...

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Jonathan Walters of Governing magazine has been writing about state and local innovation for more than 20 years. He recently sat down with John O'Leary, executive...

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Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick recently announced plans to lay off up to 2,000 state workers, as the Bay State joins the growing list of states in...

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If you outsourced your angels, would more of them dance on the head of a pin? It's a nonsense question, of course. Here's another: What...

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News stories from many national reporters suggest the 2009 elections amount to a statement about the Obama presidency. Maybe, but in mayor and governor races local...

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In Atlanta and Houston, mayoral races failed to produce a candidate with a majority, meaning both cities will have to conduct costly "runoff" elections between...

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Veterans Day provides an opportunity to consider ways to serve those who have served their country. Two newly announced federal initiatives can produce opportunities for...

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When Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels took office, he inherited a social services department that had distinguished itself only in bad ways. The state's Family and...

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William D. Eggers and our own John O'Leary have just come out with a new book looking at how government handles large undertakings. "If We...

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In my article below, I look at the recent decision by Indiana to cancel a major contract with IBM. The problem wasn't the shift from...

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How can different levels of government and a variety of public agencies work together effectively? That's a challenge with implications for crime, health, and a...

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Given the day-to-day demands of political leadership, it is hard to focus on innovation. In his article, John O'Leary highlights how the city of Detroit...

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In a market economy, prices communicate information, helping to shift resources to more efficient uses. Government can take advantage of this through a shared services...

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Just weeks ago, career criminal Maurice Clemmons walked into a Lakewood, Washington, coffee shop and gunned down four police officers. Although this particular crime could...

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We've seen what happens when risk isn't accounted for properly. The mortage meltdown has prompted government to address enterprise risk in a more systematic way....

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In the good old days, economic slumps were followed by recoveries. To survive lean times, governments tightened their belts, maybe raised some taxes, and life...

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There is no magic formula for public sector innovation, but there are tools and techniques that can help governments find ways to do things better,...

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I've put together a list of some of my favorite resources and reading materials for those interested in transforming government. Based in part on courses...

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State and local governments have faced big budget gaps before. Typically, things get tight for a while, then the economy perks up, tax revenues recover,...

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Over the last five years no city in the United States has more experience in large infrastructure public private partnerships than Chicago, including major deals...

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It should have been a relatively straightforward public-private partnership. In exchange for a lump sum, the city of Chicago would turn over the operation and...

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You've probably seen the ads touting the notion of "building a smarter city." There is little doubt that the technology revolution around Gov 2.0 holds enormous...

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The use of 311 systems by municipalities to intelligently respond to citizen inquiries is no longer cutting edge, but neither is its use universal. A column...

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For decades, public officials viewed voters either as passive recipients of government largesse or as active advocates for special treatment. Getting reelected generally meant launching...

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You may have heard President Obama speak about the need for a new approach to community problem solving, or heard that he's created a White...

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February 16, 2010: 3 - 5 pm (EST) Despite decades of work and billions of dollars, millions of American families remain stuck in a cycle of poverty--often exacerbated by...

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The recently released federal budget has shed a harsh spotlight on government's tendency to spend today while leaving the bill for our children to pay....

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As I write this column I am listening to my iPod and typing on my new Dell computer. Both of these products impressed me from...

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Three simple tools are revolutionizing the delivery of city services. The phone, the camera and the GPS, now generally contained in the same device, are...

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For mayors across the country a single budget item threatens their cities' capacity to maintain parks, keep the streets safe, pick up the trash and...

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This interesting article in the Washington Post by Bill Eggers and John O'Leary lays out some of the challenges associated with getting big things done...

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John O'Leary on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" talks about his recent Washington Post piece, "Can the U.S. Still Tackle Big Problems? Lessons from the Health...

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You've probably seen the scary projections of the latest White House budget that highlight the imbalance between Washington's policy promises and its capacity to pay...

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They call it "Opportunity NYC" and it was controversial from the start. New York City sought to incent poor people to improve their behavior by...

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The stress on public budgets is real. When public officials say there's nothing left to cut, they really mean it. Truth is, there aren't a...