If We Can Put a Man on the Moon: Getting Big Things Done in Government

The American people are frustrated with their government-dismayed by a series of high-profile failures (Iraq, Katrina, the financial meltdown) that seems to just keep getting longer. Yet our nation has a proud history of great achievements: victory in World War II, our national highway system, welfare reform, the moon landing. We need more successes like these to reclaim government's legacy of competence. In If We Can Put a Man on the Moon, William Eggers and John O'Leary explain how to do it. The key? Understand-and avoid-the common pitfalls that trip up public-sector leaders during the journey from idea to results.At a time of unprecedented challenges, this book, with its abundant examples and hands-on advice, is the essential guide to making our government work better. A must-read for every public official, this book will be of interest to anyone who cares about the future of democracy.

The Public Innovator's Playbook:Nurturing Bold Ideas in Government

More than ever, today's fragile global economy requires governments to construct a culture around innovation, one that's capable of envisioning and improving the future. For innovation to take root it needs to become more than an isolated project or special program. To this end, this book offers a systemic and systematic view of processes, strategies and structures that could turn public sector organizations into serial innovators. Innovative government doesn't have to be an oxymoron or a punch line. Engaging stories and much-needed guidelines for creating processes and organizational structures that foster innovation make the playbook a must-read.

Government 2.0

A well-written, lively, optimistic book that calls for the transformation of technology in government from lipstick on a bulldog to total information awareness. William Eggers's argument, conservative in nature, states that the world of politics would quickly and markedly benefit from this digital transformation in terms of a fiscal payoff, but a more profound change would result as governments become more transparent, more democratic, and more efficient.

Governing by Network

Governing by Network examines, for the first time, government’s transformation from centralized control over public programs to facilitating services through networks of nongovernmental entities, as seen through the experience of dozens of public innovators.This book outlines what this new model of government would look like and provides a roadmap for actually governing the networked state. Drawing from dozens of case studies, as well as established best practices, it provides lessons to inform elected officials, business executives and the broader public.

States of Transition: Tackling Government’s Toughest Policy and Management Challenges

Americans expect more from government in a post 9-11/Katrina world, but they trust it less. States today have a unique window of opportunity to regain public trust by tackling some of the toughest policy issues, those that have proven vexing for a generation, while also positioning themselves to address the new challenges of the 21st century-- from an aging population to growing security concerns. This book provides a roadmap for new and returning governors and their administrations to address sobering challenges--from spiraling Medicaid costs to underfunded public pensions, among others--and capitalize on the unparalleled opportunities before them.

Revolution at the Roots: Making our Government Smaller, Better and Closer to Home

Eggers and O'Leary discuss initiatives taken by local and state governments to streamline government. They provide engaging case studies and present a compelling argument that, given the right personnel, government services can be improved and savings achieved.

GOVERN BY NETWORK