Getting Results: A Guide for Federal Leaders and Managers

Getting Results is an integrated compilation of practical advice on how career and appointed leaders and managers can better manage for results, and how Congress, the media and the public can support and critique performance. The advice is non-political and non-partisan, reflecting the time-tested judgments of a broad cross section of experienced government leaders. 

Essays include the personal views of senior leaders on strategic approaches to achieving results, critical human capital management issues, using IT, leading organizational change, working with state and local governments and with contractors, communicating results to congress, the media, and the public, linking performance and budgeting, evaluating results, and working on results with IGs, GAO, and OMB. 

The authors: Vice Admiral Thad W. Allen, Jonathan Baron, Jonathan Breul, Brent Bushey, Mike Davis, Carl DeMaio, Mortimer Downey, Thomas F. Dungan, George Grob, Phil Joyce, John Kamensky, Richard Keevey, Nancy Kingsbury, Rosslyn Kleeman, Ian Koski, Dave McClure, Pat McGinnis, Maurice McTigue, Kathy Newcomer, Pete Smith, Hal Steinberg, Bob Tobias, Hugh Walkup and Barry White. 

Leaders from two administrations say this about Getting Results: 

"The Federal Government is results-oriented. We ask ourselves if we're accomplishing the desired result at an acceptable cost. If the answer is "no" or "we don't know," we are committed to do something about it. This volume contributes to our continuing effort to improve government's results for the American people." 

-- Clay Johnson III, Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget, George W. Bush Administration 

"The Federal government has made significant progress recently under both Republican and Democratic administrations in increasing its focus on the performance of its programs. However, developing comprehensive, effective performance management and reporting is a long term project that has only begun. This book captures the experience of the past, is invaluable for today's managers and provides a constructive framework on which to build for the future." 

-- John Koskinen, Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget, William J. Clinton Administration 

Table of Contents:

  1. The Results Challenge for Program Leaders and Managers
  2. Why Managing for Results Matters to Appointed and Career Leaders
  3. Perspective of Leaders
  4. The Legislative Framework
  5. Presidential Management Reform Initiatives
  6. The Results-Focused Workforce
  7. Effective Uses of Technology
  8. Leading and Managing Change
  9. Achieving Results with State and Local Partners
  10. Achieving Results with Contractors
  11. Getting the Results Message Right
  12. Communicating Results Through the Performance and Accountability Report
  13. Linking Performance and Budgeting
  14. Communicating Performance Results to Congress and the Public
  15. Evaluating Results
  16. Working with the Review and Oversight Organizations
  17. Working with the Office of Management and Budget on Results
  18. Getting Results: Will You Find the Time to Measure Up?