Toward Purposeful Strategic Planning

Science Direct (Bert George)

Research on strategic planning crosses disciplines ranging from management and public administration to healthcare, urban planning and sustainability. This fragmentation has resulted in research silos, with little interaction between disciplines. Integration across disciplines is needed to understand the various purposes strategic planning can serve.

Strategic Approach to Performance Info

Marc Robinson Blog

The approach to performance information must be highly strategic. To succeed, it needs to be built on a recognition of two fundamental realities. Firstly, there are considerable limits to our ability to measure and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of expenditure. Secondly, producing more performance information does not mean that the information will be used.

A Caveat on Federal Performance Management Systems

Government Executive (Op-Ed by Howard Risher)

The work of thousands is not suited to relying on annual performance goals. There are two large groups – highly educated knowledge workers and a related group where work assignments are based on proven individual skills. The latter group developed their unique skills through their job experience. With both groups it’s not possible to rely on performance goals. 

Resource of the Week:  Peak Performance: Denver’s Peak Academy

Governing Books

Peak Academy, the coaching and innovation program Denver Mayor Michael Hancock created in 2011 to teach frontline city employees how to tackle small problems and deliver big results. In four years, Peak Academy trained 5,000 government staff in the fundamentals of lean manufacturing and other process management techniques. This 2016 book is an in depth case study.