The Federal Management Playbook

"This is one of the best books I have ever read on how to improve the operations of government. Ira Goldstein has had a forty-five year career as a senior government official in Washington and also as a senior consultant with two major consulting firms — Deloitte and Arthur Andersen. Anyone, elected officials, presidential appointees, career government executives, consultants, and even young government recruits, would benefit from reading this book in order to assist them in achieving success when working in or for the government." — Charles A. Bowsher, Retired Comptroller General of the United States, Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and retired partner of Accenture

"Far too often these days, public service is denigrated. It's easy to point to failures — failures rooted in politics as well as management — in the administration of public policies. Ira Goldstein has a different perspective in The Federal Management Playbook. Government is important. It's not going to go away and it's enormously complex. We've got to do better. We need good 'bureaucrats' — skilled, committed, experienced career officials. We also need political direction and oversight, and these days we need competent consultants and contractors. The Playbook hammers home ways and means of working together to achieve the effective and efficient execution of public policies that we want and deserve." — Paul A. Volcker, Chairman, The Volcker Alliance