The federal management playbook

the long version

Ira Goldstein offers management wisdom for federal government leaders and aspiring leaders based on his decades of experience as a senior executive at two of the Big Four consulting firms and as a member of the US federal government's Senior Executive Service. Being a leader in the federal realm presents unique challenges because of the size and complexity of the bureaucracy and the system of checks and balances designed by the founding fathers. This framework has successfully protected freedom, but it difficult to operate efficiently and effectively within it. Goldstein presents four key dimensions of success and explains what government managers do when they are effective at achieving personal, program, or organizational success. Topics discussed include motivating employees, managing contractors, supporting innovation, deploying technology, managing risk, communicating to citizens, adopting the right organizational structures, and collaborating across organizational boundaries.