Hard Trek from Political to Program Success

June 29th, 2011 • Engagement, General, Management, Philanthropy, Poverty2 Comments

Funding public programs and social services by collecting data on their performance is important, but how do we evaluate whether an idea actually works?

Noteworthy Reads on Collaboration and Innovation

June 23rd, 2011 • Engagement, General, Management, PovertyLeave the first Comment

Two recent Governing magazine columns are noteworthy for their focus on innovative government approaches to tough policy problems.

Civic Entrepreneurship: A Dynamic Concept

June 9th, 2011 • Engagement, General, PovertyLeave the first Comment

In our research we found that a number of leading thinkers, beginning at least over a decade ago, had been using the term civic entrepreneurship in their work. Interestingly, it meant something slightly different to each. Does “civic entrepreneurship” mean something significant to you in your work?

Sara Horowitz & Maya Enista | Mobilizing for Change in the 21st Century

May 31st, 2011 • Democracy, Engagement, GeneralLeave the first Comment

Guest columnists Sara Horowitz and Maya Enista share insights to help innovators build constituencies critical to overcoming incumbent opposition to efforts at reform.

Innovation via Strong Executive Leadership

May 24th, 2011 • Education, Engagement, ManagementLeave the first Comment

What are the tools of a mayor to influence the “landscape” (culture, capacity and infrastructure) for innovation within a system for solving social problems?

The Most Innovative and Compelling Efforts in American Government

May 19th, 2011 • Education, Engagement, General, Health, Management, PovertyLeave the first Comment

Earlier this month, the Ash Center announced the Top 25 programs in the Innovations in American Government Award competition.

Better, Faster, Cheaper: The Secret to StateStat’s Success

May 12th, 2011 • ManagementLeave the first Comment

Everyone talks about measuring performance and funding for results, but putting this ideal into practice is a challenge. Read more about what makes Maryland’s system work, which according to Robert Knisely is the human element.

Boston’s Turnaround on Charters

May 4th, 2011 • Education, ManagementLeave the first Comment

A recent local development in K-12 education is worth noting – and shows that you don’t have to be a fresh face to pursue an innovative strategy.

Can Culture Overcome Opposition to Innovation?

April 21st, 2011 • General, ManagementLeave the first Comment

New York City Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith suggests five steps for creating an organizational culture that inspires and supports innovation

Collective Impact

March 17th, 2011 • Education, Engagement, General, Health, Management, PovertyLeave the first Comment

“Establish a common vision, adopt a shared set of measurable goals and pursue evidence-based actions that reinforce one another’s work and further those goals.”