News

Fri, 11/01/2024

Strategic Doing in Douglas, Wyoming: Bridging the Gap Between Ambition and Action

In today’s fast-paced world, strategic planning alone is insufficient to drive meaningful change. Organizations, especially at the municipal level, need to shift their focus from planning to doing. The City of Douglas, Wyoming, has embraced this approach with its Strategic Doing framework, which emphasizes collaboration, action, and continuous improvement. This article explores how Douglas is setting the groundwork for success by aligning its strategic goals with staff performance, focusing on

Fri, 11/01/2024

Strategies for Managing Organizational Crises

In times of a budget crisis, decisions must be made quickly and effectively. Some managers prefer to take immediate action based on their knowledge and instinct. But researchers found that bringing in middle managers who have expert knowledge leads to better outcomes.

Tue, 09/24/2024

Developing Leaders Key to Succession Planning: Deliberate strategies prepare employees and organizations

It’s not unusual in the public sector for leaders within an organization to be passionate about their organizations and their organizations’ success. While people in these positions are focused on current objectives, it’s important to consider how they are supporting the organization’s future success. Succession planning for key positions outside senior leadership is essential.

Thu, 08/15/2024

Streetcars Drive Economic Development Transportation is often secondary motivation

Several midsized cities across the United States have pursued streetcar development in their urban cores in the last few years. As transportation development and support sources, such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, provide funding for streetcars, the objective seems to be transportation. But in addition, cities count on streetcars to drive economic development.

Thu, 08/01/2024

Importance of Election Administration Financing

New book explore the complexities of running elections

Mon, 07/01/2024

Community Engagement for Organizational Success

Organizational change, success, and progress can affect community partners and constituents. Whether the opportunity appears advantageous or disruptive, change can create anxiety because there is an element of the unknown. Engaging the community can be advantageous to both the organization and its constituents, but it’s critical for the organization to...

Mon, 06/03/2024

Establishing an Organization Sustainability Focus

In the midst of managing an organization with its challenges and rewards, taking time to consider environmental sustainability planning may not seem like a priority. But sustainability may be as critical to your organizational health as it is to environmental health. ...

Wed, 05/08/2024

Leading Edge Program Finds a New Permanent Home at the University of Kansas Public Management Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE...

Mon, 04/29/2024

Cybersecurity Essential in the Digital Age | Vigilance matters at the individual, corporate, and government level

While two-factor sign-ons and constant requirements to change passwords may be tedious, these components of work and personal systems are essential and the most familiar approaches to cybersecurity. Keeping individual accounts safe is important, but a fraction of the risk facing organizations globally. ...

Thu, 03/28/2024

Weighing Public Investment in Professional Stadium Development: From ballot box to game day

In the past year a dozen professional sports teams were in the midst of new stadium developments or announced they were renovating current venues or moving. Closest to home is the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. Many of these projects, with cost projections in the billions rely...

Mon, 03/04/2024

Making Government Services Accessible: Digital Access for All

For decades, the public sector has worked diligently to create accessibility initiatives so their support can be available and optimized by everyone in the community. As technology has changed, so have the needs of individuals. Most public services have an online presence — webpages, online bill payments, various forms and...

Mon, 02/19/2024

Putting the "Civil" in Civil Service

A local government whose tone and conduct are civil contributes to a healthy democracy. Participants who are civil are polite, courteous, respectful, honest, and reasonable. This behavior — both in public forums and behind closed doors — is important because it creates an environment that is open, fair, and considerate...

Tue, 01/02/2024

The Best Bosses Don’t Manage. They Coach.

Coaching, rather than simply managing, your employees can have huge positive outcomes. This approach can improve your team’s performance, enhance their job satisfaction and confidence, and help them achieve their goals. Coaching also builds trust and increases employee retention rates. ...

Mon, 11/27/2023

Tips for Government Budgeting and Financial Management

A government’s budget plays numerous roles, from allocating resources among departments to planning for the future of the community. Create a balanced and sustainable budget by keeping these tips in mind. ...

Mon, 11/06/2023

Move Your Organization Forward Using Strategic Planning

In the public sector, strategic planning can help bring new policies to fruition, solve local issues, and produce results that respond to citizens’ needs. But what exactly does strategic planning entail? A strategic plan serves as a long-term roadmap to prioritize, strategize, and budget to meet organizational goals. It is...

Mon, 10/16/2023

Actualizing Inclusive Leadership.

Elevating the voices of employees and the commitment to creating an atmosphere of belonging in the workplace is vital to the success of teams and organizations in the public sector. These ideas are at the foundation of inclusive leadership. The incorporation of discussing needed improvements in representation hinges on acting and implementing those changes. Your organization should have a diversity, inclusion, and equity plan already in practice. That is a good way to begin the conversation and start to focus on what specifically your organization might need to enhance to better serve the community. Through these discussions, some employees might display insight and leadership qualities, which will be an asset. Every role in the public sector has its own responsibility. As a manager, it is important to support those roles and self-evaluate your duties.

Thu, 10/12/2023

Building a Stronger Community Through Collaboration and Team Building

Collaboration is essential to any organization, especially in the public sector, where funds, time, and resources are often limited. ...

Sat, 09/30/2023

Increasing Innovation Through Public Policy Networks

Today’s public sector faces growing challenges with globalization, technological shifts, and increasing complexity of policy issues. No single government sector can address all of these changing variables alone. To most effectively meet the goals of all organizations, cross-sectoral public policy networks must be created to unite governments, international organizations, civil society, and businesses.

Wed, 06/28/2023

Watchfulness is Key to Incorporating Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector: Striking a Balance Between Efficiency and Responsibility

Artificial intelligence (AI) updates have entered our daily media streams and discussions. But variations of AI have been part of our lives for decades. Think about autocorrect for word processing, GPS, and automated customer service. AI systems make life easier, but the big question is what responsibilities we hand over to these systems and programs and which ones need to remain in the control of the human worker. The mission of public service is to help communities prosper. As AI evolves, will that hinder or help those in the public sector?

Fri, 05/26/2023

The Power of Professional Development on Career Progression

Most of the time, our work responsibilities are tracked like a checklist: this is what is required, that requirement has been met, check it off the list. There is a degree of satisfaction in that kind of accomplishment. As the public sector grows and adjusts to the needs of contemporary communities, the responsibilities of any position in an organization can expand and specialize.

Sun, 01/01/2023

It’s Time to Hand the Work Back

For months—and far longer in some cases—managers have been stepping in to cover the duties of multiple roles to ensure that the crucial work gets done. Even as staffing levels start to stabilize in county governments, the scramble to just stay above water means that many individuals have not had the training they need to really perform.

Fri, 12/23/2022

Resonant v. Dissonant Leadership

Anyone who has attended a middle school band concert knows the difference between resonance and dissonance. Dissonance is that disagreeable combination of sounds that’s often prominent at the fall concert when the kids are still learning how to tune their instruments accurately and hit the right notes at the right time. When they don’t, what they create is an unpleasant, dissonant sound in the auditorium.

Tue, 11/22/2022

Finding and Keeping Talent

Regardless of the location of a community or organization, its size, or the department or position that needs to be filled, local governments are all concerned about their ability to attract and retain quality employees.

Media Contacts