Centers of Government

Escaping Traps

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In any country, patterns of crisis and opportunity, as well as the bargaining skill and personal temperament of senior officials, shape the effectiveness of a president’s office or a prime minister’s cabinet secretariat. Most of these elements remain largely beyond anyone’s control. However, organizational design and management practice, which are more amenable to adjustment and direction, also influence how well a center of government is able to plan, monitor, manage and communicate.

This research line asks whether there are ways to structure these offices in order to enhance the functional capabilities of governments in the especially challenging contexts that fragile states present. In particular, ISS examines the kinds of organizational structures and policies that states successfully emerging from conflict or collapse have used to help compensate for five key handicaps: 1) temporary shortages of specially trained personnel, 2) limited ability to rely on institutionalized departments to carry out the daily business of government without close monitoring, 3) the need to devote substantial time to the construction of a political community, 4) a tendency for other countries to cultivate client relationships with senior political advisers, and 5) intensive interaction with aid donors.

Latest Publications

Translating Vision into Action: Indonesia's Delivery Unit, 2009-2012
Focus Area: Centers of Government

Country: Indonesia
A New Approach to Managing at the Center of Government: Governor Mitch Daniels and Indiana, 2005-2012
Focus Area: Centers of Government, Building a Reform Team and Staff

Country: United States
Improving Decision Making at the Center of Government: Liberia's Cabinet Secretariat, 2009-2012
Focus Area: Centers of Government

Country: Liberia
Shifting the Cabinet into High Gear: Agile Policymaking in Rwanda: 2008-2012
Focus Area: Centers of Government

Country: Rwanda
Matching Goodwill with National Priorities: Liberia's Philanthropy Secretariat, 2008 - 2012
Focus Area: Centers of Government

Country: Liberia

More Publications

Latest Interviews

Daniels, Mitch
Focus Area: Centers of Government

Country: United States
Klapkalne, Una
Focus Area: Centers of Government

Country: Latvia
Johnston, Cristopher
Focus Area: Centers of Government

Country: United States
Davis, Natty B.
Focus Area: Centers of Government

Country: Liberia
Rogers, Momo
Focus Area: Centers of Government

Country: Liberia

More Interviews

Resources, Links, and Networks

Africa Governance Initiative

India's Delivery Monitoring Unit (Prime Minister's Office)

India's Performance Management Division (Cabinet Secretariat)

Malaysia's Government Transformation Program: Big Fast Results

White House Transition Project

White House Transition Project: Institutional Memory Series

Reform Profile

Governor Mitch Daniels

Governor, State of Indiana

Brief Profile

Mitch Daniels is the 49th Governor of the State of Indiana and the author of the best-selling book, Keeping the Republic: Saving America by Trusting Americans. Although he had served as Chief of Staff to Senator Richard Lugar, Senior Advisor to President Ronald Reagan and Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush, his approach was molded in the private sector.

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