Description
Book SynopsisA Practical Guide to Government Management provides a comprehensive yet one-volume work on high-level government management and can be described as a management book, reference book, and textbook all in one. It is geared towards any upper level government manager, public administration student, or anyone interested in public sector management. Government managers receive limited or no management training, and at higher levels, focus more on policy than management, with negative consequences for the agencies they manage. This book seeks to address that dearth, written from the point of view of someone who successfully led government organizations, for an extended period, and faced a wide variety of managerial problems and issues. It covers a number of topics seldom discussed (and certainly not all in one volume), such as handling problem employees, cutback management, prioritization, making decisions, gaining control of an organization, and telling one’s boss — the elected official—no. Leo Strine, Chief Justice of Delaware’s Supreme Court and a former colleague, says that “In a time when many Americans are jaded about public service, it’s refreshing to be reminded that there are talented people who devote their careers to making our government work for the governed. Vince Meconi always put the public first in his decades of service in all three branches of government, and anyone interested in making government more effective will benefit from his insights and experience.” Former Delaware Medicaid Director Harry Hill says, “I have led government agencies, managed for multiple Fortune 500 Companies, and run my own business. Vince Meconi is the best manager I have ever encountered. As a student of management myself, I collected over 800 books on the subject. Most offered little new, just a new way of saying the same thing. This book has what the others lacked — written instructions, practical examples, and advice for public sector managers from someone who has actually faced all the challenges for a prolonged period. It is a management book, reference book, and textbook all in one.”
Trade ReviewOne of the interesting things about government is that the elected face of an organization is rarely the person responsible for the day-to-day operations. Government employees in nonelected positions are often appointed or move into the job from an unrelated field of study—often without any management background. This volume aims to offer advice and training for those holding (or who are interested in) positions in the public sector. Meconi, who has held top-level positions in Delaware government since 1993, brings the requisite knowledge and experience to this book. The volume contains three sections: 'You: Managing Yourself,' 'Your Organization: Managing Internally,' and 'Your Environment: Managing Externally.' Each section is further divided into chapters (such as 'Self-Management,' 'Making Decisions and Solving Problems,' and 'The Media'). The information covered includes a broad discussion of budgeting, a look at various personnel issues, advice on assembling a leadership team, and tips on working for elected officials. This resource is recommended for academic and public libraries, where it will be a welcome reference for citizens interested in running for public office as well as those already in such roles. * Booklist *
The cumulative result is a roadmap which can provide governmental employees and policy-makers with a framework for dealing with the challenges, opportunities, and crises they may face during their governmental service. It will be useful for any prospective governmental employee regardless of their partisan background and what branch of government they will be working in. Recommended for libraries desirous of building and maintaining strong public administration collections. * American Reference Books Annual *
A Practical Guide To Government Management...[is] a thoroughly comprehensive, superbly organized, and effectively presented instruction guide and manual that will prove to be an invaluable reference for anyone charged with a managerial responsibility for any level of governmental service. Impressively 'user friendly', A Practical Guide To Government Management should be a part of every community, academic, and governmental library Political Science reference collection. * Midwest Book Review *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: You: Managing Yourself 1 Self-Management Introduction Your Time Keeping Lists Meetings Using Your Immediate Staff Miscellaneous Notes 2 Leadership Introduction Setting the Tone Your Leadership Style Coaching Your Team Dealing With Adversity Notes 3 Ethics Notes Part II: Your Organization: Managing Internally 4 People Introduction Whom to Hire How to Manage Your Employees Your Leadership Team Problem Employees Making Your Organization’s Culture Managerial Managing Change in a Bureaucracy Notes 5 Prioritization Notes 6 Money Introduction The Budget Game Cutback Management Notes 7 Making Decisions and Solving Problems Introduction Making Decisions Solving Problems Negotiations Crisis Management Notes 8 Gaining Control of Your Organization Introduction Control—What it is and Who Needs to Know Assessing Your Organization Gaining Control of Your Personnel Gaining Control of Your Agenda Notes Part III: Your Environment: Managing Externally 9 Working for Elected Officials Introduction Taking and Leaving the Position Understanding the Boss Elected Officials and Management Helping Them Do Their Jobs The Executive Office Staff Telling Them No Notes 10 The Legislative Branch of Government Introduction Legislative Culture Legislative Relations What Legislators Want From You Legislative Hearings Legislative Strategy Notes 11 The Media Introduction A Different Value System Understanding the Media Media Strategy Notes 12 . . . And More Interest Groups Agencies That Should Always Help You—And Sometimes Do Privatization, Vendors, and Contracts 2 Lawsuits A Few Last Random Thoughts Notes Acknowledgments Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations References Managing Government Agencies Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Biographies and Autobiographies of Managers and Leaders American Government Index
