View from the Cordillera
A Commentary on Achieving Excellence in Local Government
Read by Municipal Leaders on 4 Continents
Published by the Cordillera Institute
(Vol. 4, Issue 2)
Do We Really Need to Improve Our Performance?
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Summary of This Commentary
In Issue 03.40, we reviewed the case for improving the performance of our municipalities -- especially in tough economic times like those we are currently facing. [
You can read the summary of that commentary here.] To meet that challenge, our Institute has developed a proven method to estimate the return on investment in performance improvement. That initiative is our Local Government Performance Checkup. [
You will find the prospectus for LGPC here.] Some are predicting that this current downturn will be over before any real belt-tightening is needed. Others are predicting something far more serious. Whose predictions are right? Why hasn't the bailout 'medicine' cured the 'patient'? How will all this affect our local governments? What should your organization be doing? This commentary provides some answers to those questions. And, it introduces another initiative to improve the performance of our local governments -- C&SI (the Comparing & Sharing Initiative). C&SI builds upon the foundation of the performance comparisons made as part of LGPC. [
You will find the prospectus for the Comparing & Sharing Initiative here.] So, do we really need to improve our performance? Those who operate from the paradigm of government first want to see our local governments replaced by a string of senior-government field offices. And, as we've seen in previous commentaries, they will take advantage of every crisis to advance their agenda. To avoid that fate, we must take all available steps to ensure the survival of our municipalities.
As always, we welcome your comments.
David Barber
Director
Cordillera Institute
(416) 293-9300
CordInst@istar.ca
http://pages.istar.ca/~cordinst/
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About This Publication
Each week,
View from the Cordillera covers some aspect of excellence in local government. It may examine one of the success elements; it may present a case study; it may introduce a resource (an individual, a group, a publication, etc.) which is advancing excellence; it may advocate a new direction for local government; or it may identify a wrong turn in public policy and offer an appropriate remedy. This electronic publication is being sent to those who govern, manage, support, and sustain our municipalities. For more information, just click on the
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About the Cordillera Institute
The Cordillera Institute is an independent research and public policy organization dedicated to excellence in local government. Since our founding in 1994, we have studied many high-performance organizations to learn what makes them successful. From this research, we have distilled a set of principles, paradigms, policies, programs, and practices which are the key elements of their success. Our mission is to be a catalyst -- to empower municipalities, public utilities, school boards, and other local public agencies to achieve excellence by adopting and applying these success elements. For more information, just click on the
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