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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Performance Management-Measurement

Want Better Teamwork? Take More Breaks

Want Better Teamwork? Take More Breaks

A recent study suggests that team members in problem-solving groups need time alone as well as face-to-face meetings to get the best possible group results. 

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Improving Performance Management in Government Through Visual Data

Improving Performance Management in Government Through Visual Data

This blog post looks at some of the Lean-related visual tools King County uses to support its efforts at continuous improvement.

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Sustaining the Change Agent

Sustaining the Change Agent

In this post, Government Performance Advisor Michael Jacobson argues that change agents working within local government must also make time for reflection, self-care, and building community connections for personal, not just work-related, reasons. 

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Spokane County Uses Lean to Improve Emergency Response Efforts

Spokane County Uses Lean to Improve Emergency Response Efforts

The fourth article, from the series on how Spokane County has been using Lean principles to improve government performance at all levels, focuses on improvements to the county’s addressing process through the development of a new, regional addressing standard.

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Who "Owns" Public Data?

Who "Owns" Public Data?

Who owns public data? Is is reasonable for public entities to manage the availability of their data? And what is the relationship between data and open government? In this Advisor column, Michael Jacobson shares his thoughts.

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Spokane County Uses Lean to Improve Its Job Application Process

Spokane County Uses Lean to Improve Its Job Application Process

Spokane County COO John Dickson shares another story about how the county is using lean principles to improve its services - this time, an account from Linda McGlocklin about how the HR department switched to NEOGOV software for its job application process.

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When to Kaizen: Events Versus Workshop

When to Kaizen: Events Versus Workshop

Consultant Steven Thomson makes a case for doing the lean workshop rather than the one-day kaizen event, which can leave staff frustrated and unfulfilled.

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Successful Change Initiatives: As Simple as 1-2-3

Successful Change Initiatives: As Simple as 1-2-3

The "power of three" is a writing principle that states that things in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, and more effective than any other number of things. The power of three also translates perfectly into an actionable and sustainable change management strategy.

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Spokane County Golf Courses Continuously Improve Quality of Customers’ Experience

Spokane County Golf Courses Continuously Improve Quality of Customers’ Experience

Spokane County COO John Dickson shares another story about how the county is using lean principles to improve its services - this time, an account from Nautice Pham about how the county got feedback from its golf customers.

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On the Quest for a Performance Culture: Where to Start?

On the Quest for a Performance Culture: Where to Start?

Today, governments wanting to embark on performance management have a plethora of approaches which they follow. This profusion of approaches is both exhilarating and terrifying. So where should you start?

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Spokane County Utility Billing Team Lean Success Story

Spokane County Utility Billing Team Lean Success Story

A first in a series about how Spokane County’s front-line staff are leading the lean transformation in their departments.

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Spokane County’s Journey to Lean

Spokane County’s Journey to Lean

Spokane County's chief operating officer write about how the county has aggressively improved its processes over the past three years using the lean methodology.

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Lean on Me: A Culture of Respect in the Workplace

Lean on Me: A Culture of Respect in the Workplace

In this third of a 3-part series on understanding the people side of lean we explore how focusing on staff can help overcome the common obstacles to lean implementation. 

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Understanding Customers in the Public Sector

Understanding Customers in the Public Sector

It's time to start using the concept of "customer" to help make government more effective, efficient, and people-oriented.

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Lean on Me: The Pitfalls of Performance Measurement

Lean on Me: The Pitfalls of Performance Measurement

In my work with teams and organizations, it pains me to witness people being bullied with performance measures, well-intentioned as these efforts may be.

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Lean on Me: Supporting Your Staff Through the Lean Process

Lean on Me: Supporting Your Staff Through the Lean Process

Where many lean initiatives go wrong is focusing too much on getting rid of waste and not enough on investing in the people.

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