Workbook for Seamless Government

Rating:
Summary: Not a Fad But a Change in Outlook
Review: I'm presently using Dr. Linden's book to transform the culture of my city so that to citizens we appear seamless. I used the paradigm of Frankenstein's monster. Other than his size, what makes him scary? He's covered with seams! And we are too, every time a customer (citizen) gets transfered from one department to the next to get their business done.

Adopting a seamless approach is not a project for the squeamish. It is a culture change that will take years to put in place. The workbook is a great guide with lots of practical steps and wisdom to boot. Well-written with the lay person (his customer) always in mind, Russ Linden's concept and the book to put the concept into action are winners! Or perhaps the customer is the real winner. Win-win....hmmm...I like it.

Rating:
Summary: Practical Tips for Complex Challenges
Review: The author, a well regarded lecturer, consultant, and columnist for the magazine the Virginia Review, has once again produced a hit. We talked to him when this book was first published by Jossey-Bass, and couldn't wait for our copy to arrive. When it did, we found it to be a working sequel to his popular 1994 book "Seamless Government." "Workbook" is just that, plus an excellent reference text at the same time. The book is organized into themes as well as chapters for easy retrieval of information. The book is big on what Russ calls the three Ps - people, plan, and politics. Russ said he wrote the book to give public and private sector managers "approaches, methods, and tools to help them dramatically improve work processes for seamless service. When these approaches are followed, employees tell me that they fight less over turf and collaborate more to find better ways to serve customers. Walls between units start to collapse, and overall organizational performance improves." If you are interested in learning to make effective organizational change, this workbook is for you. As Martha Mitchell, management consulting advisor for Prince William County, Virginia said, "This workbook is an invaluable road map for organizations to navigate the challenges of change. By using this approach, our organization has enhanced its ability to solve problems and facilitate change. I recommend it with enthusiasm for its usefulness in tapping the creative energy of people to achieve better results." While many of his clients are in the public sector, through his articulate and engaging writing style Russ ensures that the information in this valuable resource is just as key to people in the private or nonprofit worlds. It would be great for any organization that is considering changing the way things have been done in the past to improve communication, performance, and level of service. It can provide the framework if you are looking for a model by which to design your organization.

Rating:
Summary: Practical Tips for Complex Challenges
Review: The author, a well regarded lecturer, consultant, and columnist for the magazine the Virginia Review, has once again produced a hit. We talked to him when this book was first published by Jossey-Bass, and couldn't wait for our copy to arrive. When it did, we found it to be a working sequel to his popular 1994 book "Seamless Government." "Workbook" is just that, plus an excellent reference text at the same time. The book is organized into themes as well as chapters for easy retrieval of information. The book is big on what Russ calls the three Ps - people, plan, and politics. Russ said he wrote the book to give public and private sector managers "approaches, methods, and tools to help them dramatically improve work processes for seamless service. When these approaches are followed, employees tell me that they fight less over turf and collaborate more to find better ways to serve customers. Walls between units start to collapse, and overall organizational performance improves." If you are interested in learning to make effective organizational change, this workbook is for you. As Martha Mitchell, management consulting advisor for Prince William County, Virginia said, "This workbook is an invaluable road map for organizations to navigate the challenges of change. By using this approach, our organization has enhanced its ability to solve problems and facilitate change. I recommend it with enthusiasm for its usefulness in tapping the creative energy of people to achieve better results." While many of his clients are in the public sector, through his articulate and engaging writing style Russ ensures that the information in this valuable resource is just as key to people in the private or nonprofit worlds. It would be great for any organization that is considering changing the way things have been done in the past to improve communication, performance, and level of service. It can provide the framework if you are looking for a model by which to design your organization.