Posted on January 4, 2010 by Dr. John Luthy
For those elected officials and professional public managers who have not read the new book by Patrick Carr and Maria Kefalas, it is a must-read. Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America is a marvelous book about the motivations and heartache that accompanies hard decisions related to abandoning a nurturing rural community. Journalist Nick Reding has captured similar sentiments and causative factors in his equally powerful book, Methland, which documents the new economy, changing social structures and the corrosive polarity that exists between the communities celebrated by Richard Florida and those he, Carr and Kefalas describe.
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Posted on November 8, 2009 by Dr. John Luthy
Data by itself is merely information. We place values on it and determine its positive or negative impact on enterprise, program, or community. Like most aspects of strategic thinking and planning, the process is typically more valuable than the product. Merely getting together to review data, establish parameters, and calculate probability will pay enormous dividends. Unfortunately, far too many public leaders and government agencies neglect this intrinsic management activity.
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Posted on October 28, 2009 by Dr. John Luthy
A city manager once told me that the only goal established for his community is ‘To Achieve Quality of Life for all Citizens.’ While a commendable vision, in my view it is hardly a strategic goal that belongs in a strategic plan. I didn’t win many points when I asked him to list the criteria [...]
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Posted on August 20, 2009 by Dr. John Luthy
This country cannot squeeze down public entities so far that basic services suffer. As with all affluent societies, Americans want the level of service to which they have become accustomed. Frankly, that is no longer possible.
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Posted on June 12, 2009 by Dr. John Luthy
The emergence of special districts and other singular entities originated to address specific local issues that were often multijurisdictional in nature. They provided an opportunity to generate tax revenue, establish local representation and create charters designed to address problems. However, the very nature of these special entities has often created less control and only marginal oversight. Will this limit the freedom of citizens to decide, choose, or eliminate outmoded forms of government?
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Posted on May 12, 2009 by Dr. John Luthy
Public managers must understand that a preemptive approach to program review and performance is much more powerful and meaningful than a reactive approach. That is, it is always better to report ahead of time what a department, division or program is doing and what it will contribute for the funds allocated.
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