New President’s Management Agenda Released

U.S. Office of Management and Budget

This agenda articulates key management reform objectives as priority goals, as established by presidential executive orders and directives encompassing three themes: (1) shrink the government and eliminate waste, (2) ensure accountability for Americans, and (3) deliver results, buy American.

New PMA Demystified

Niskanen Center (Gabe Menchaca)

“It reads like two agendas stitched together: one technocratic, aimed at federal administrators, and one ideological, aimed at unofficial commissars and social media.”

Measuring Safety; Getting It Right

Barrett & Greene (Alex Trembley)

Crime rates shouldn’t be discarded as a measure of public safety, but they should be one indicator in a broader approach to measurement. Relying on crime statistics alone to judge safety is like judging a car’s performance only by engine failures.

Using AI in Program Evaluation

IBM Center for The Business of Government

This report by Daniel Fonner provides a timely and practical framework for integrating AI into an important function of government: program evaluation and performance auditing.

Performance Rankings Distract Readers from Paying Attention to Performance Info

Public Management Review

“Performance information is often presented in a ranked format. Rankings aggregate a multitude of performance dimensions into an overall score. Simultaneously, rankings may constrain cognitive processing of performance information because they distract users’ attention away from the information underlying the ranking calculation.”

Resource of the Week:  How to Measure Anything, 3^rd Edition

Douglas Hubbard (2014) Wiley Publishers

“The myth that certain things can’t be measured is a significant drain on our nation’s economy, public welfare, the environment, and even national security. In fact, the chances are good that some part of your life or your professional responsibilities is greatly harmed by a lack of measurement-by you, your firm, or even your government.”