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The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.
By Larry Keeton
June 16, 2017
President Trump’s plan to improve government efficiency and effectiveness is standard operating procedure. Since Franklin D. Roosevelt, every President has sought to leave their mark on the federal bureaucracy. Some take root and grow; most die like weeds after a dose of Roundup®. President Trump is now giving it the ol’ business try. His Office of American Innovation (OAI) will tackle government stagnation, produce results and infuse his “ahead of schedule, under budget” mantra. Impressive names from the American financial and technology sectors serve as the guiding lights.
Across the country, a small Washington State rural county government faces a similar challenge. After a year of continued media reports slamming the commissioners and calling for a professional county administrator, the three-member County Commissioners formed a Blue-Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) to find a solution. Their task addresses the need for a professional county administrator and defining what is “better” government for the county’s citizens.
Comparing the two efforts to date, what can we learn? Are the lessons important?
As previously pointed out, no representative was present for the discussion about modernizing the VA. Those in the Department must wonder what the “top-down” solution will be. Like good public servants they will accept their new direction, or at least go through the motions. This isn’t a criticism, but a fact. In today’s culture, changing one’s behavior, as others have written in previous articles, requires staff engagement.
The BSTF’s approach is different. First, a serving director sits on the panel. He’s able to address his peers’ concerns and fears of a potential structural change that impact the way they interface with the three Commissioners. Second, local media presence at the meetings has kept the public informed, educating them on the complexities of county government which has had the additional benefit in reducing negative press.
Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist 70, “A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.” This wisdom is as true today as they day they were penned.
Since 2001, Americans have steady disapproved of the country’s direction and their trust in government to do the right thing continues to wane. Neither party is immune from the criticism and loss of confidence. Obamacare is a classic example. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act with the malfunctioning website is equally matched by initial Republican efforts at “Repeal and Replace.” Both were debacles, both demonstrate bad government.
Rebuilding trust and confidence in government at all levels is the responsibility of its elected and appointed leaders, as well as those front line staff who serve the citizenry every day. Improving efficiency and effectiveness of government services is one but one tool. When an organization decides to undertake this effort, remember the lessons. Clearly defined problem statement, include the right people and stakeholders in solution development, and preparing the change battlefield through constant communication/engagement leads to good government. In comparing the two efforts within this piece, which one will root and grow? Which one will end up with a dose of Roundup ®.
Author: Larry Keeton is a retired public administrator with over 44 years of successfully leading military and local government organizations ranging in size from 10 to 1300 people. Successful change management efforts and results in the organizations he led have received state and national recognition. He can be reached at [email protected].
Douglas
June 16, 2017 at 1:32 pm
Sound article. One could argue too that rather than the proverbial argument to simply “reform or fix” government – there could be some more rounding up of the weeds to ‘retire, absorb or consolidate’ the shear multitude of federal agencies.