Measuring Service Members’ Transition to Civilian Life

U.S. Government Accountability Office

The Transition Assistance Program helps servicemembers choose a career, pursue higher education or entrepreneurship, or find a job after military service. However, performance data show that those who need maximum support don’t participate. Better understanding root causes would help Defense officials improve the program.

OPM Pushes Agencies to Improve PMA Workforce Priority Metrics

Meritalk

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is asking agencies to take a number of actions to better track progress on the first priority in the President’s Management Agenda (PMA), which aims to strengthen and empower the Federal workforce.

Chief Data Officer Council: Progress in Strengthening Federal Evidence-Based Policymaking

U.S. Government Accountability Office

The CDO Council has taken a range of actions to address its statutory responsibilities and improve how the federal government collects and uses data. Individual agencies have taken actions to build on the Council’s efforts, and to improve their ability to use different types of evidence. 

How One State Is Excelling at Process Improvement

RouteFifty

Nebraska’s Center of Operational Excellence, which launched in 2015, champions continuous improvement efforts that have reduced costs and had a positive impact by applying Lean Six Sigma methods.

Data and Behavior with the People Lab

Data-Smart City Solutions (Podcast 18:17)

Harvard academics Stephan Goldsmith and Elizabeth Linos discuss Linos’ path from practitioner to academic, the role of geographic data in service improvement, and how behavioral science can help governments do more with less.

Mini-RCTs: A Tool for Program Managers to Help Identify What Works

Urban Institute

This brief encourages public service agencies and their managers to consider the opportunities and usefulness of undertaking Mini-Randomized Control Trials to provide them with higher-quality information for improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of their services, while recognizing their limitations. 

Resource of the Week:  Performance Management for Public Health Departments

InsightFormation, by Bill Barberger

InsightFormation weaves together key concepts derived from strategy management and current research into public health, policy, and social impact, providing you with a comprehensive framework to effectively plan, track, and implement actions that will result in improved outcomes of your priority issues.