#  Operational Excellence in Government 

 



Operational Excellence in Government was a project led by Stephen Goldsmith, Director of Data-Smart City Solutions and Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School. The project identifies operational efficiency themes across state and local governments.

The project analyzed recommendations across 30 state and local government studies, highlighting trends and challenges across jurisdictions. By pinpointing opportunities for cost savings, recommending proven efficiencies, and providing implementation guidance, Operational Excellence in Government served as a central resource for public-sector excellence. The project’s research increased the capacity of state and local governments to induce organizational change. By providing a free resource to inform and support government transformation, Operational Excellence in Government promoted the attainability of effective governance across all jurisdictions, ultimately leading to a more effective, efficient, and accountable government for all.

Operational Excellence was housed at Harvard Kennedy School’s [Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation](http://ash.harvard.edu/), the preeminent voice for innovation in government. From 2016-2017, this research project was supported by [the Laura and John Arnold Foundation](https://www.arnoldventures.org/) and conducted in partnership with United States Common Sense, a nonpartisan nonprofit policy group dedicated to opening government data and resources to the public, and the [Institute for Excellence in Government](https://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-for-excellence-in-government/).

## Welcome Message



 



 

 

 



 

 

 

## Key Resources

- [Executive Summary](/opex/research/achieving-operational-excellence-government-executive-summary)
- [Narrative Framework/Project Analysis](/opex/research/accelerating-success-operational-excellence-government-project-narrative-framework)
- [Outside Resources](/opex/research/operational-excellence-outside-resources)

## Browse Topics

- [Revenue Enhancement and Finance](/opex/research/topic-revenue-enhancement-and-finance)
- [Workforce Management](/opex/research/topic-workforce-management)
- [Operations](/opex/research/topic-operations)
- [Data and Information Technology](/opex/research/topic-data-and-information-technology)
- [Asset Management and Sustainability](/opex/research/topic-asset-management-and-sustainability)
- [Performance and Accountability](/opex/research/topic-performance-and-accountability)



 

  [### Case Study: New York City Office Space Optimization, An Operational Excellence in Government Success Story

 ](/opex/research/case-study-new-york-city-office-space-optimization-operational-excellence-government) May 31, 2017 

 

   ![data-smart_card.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/data-smart_card.jpg?itok=lDzbdKBE) 

 



 

 

   [### Case Study: Atlanta's Blue Ribbon Commission on Waste & Efficiency in Government Report, An Operational Excellence in Government Success Story

 ](/opex/research/case-study-atlantas-blue-ribbon-commission-waste-efficiency-government-report) May 31, 2017 

 

   ![atlanta_city_hall.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/atlanta_city_hall.jpg?itok=cgBKtdLa) 

 



 

 

   [### Case Study: Performance Management and Lean Process Improvement - Results Washington, An Operational Excellence in Government Success Story

 ](/opex/research/case-study-performance-management-and-lean-process-improvement-results-washington) May 31, 2017 

 

   ![washington_state_capiol_building.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/washington_state_capiol_building.jpg?itok=-mSWScUe) 

 



 

 

   [### Employee-Driven Process Improvements

 ](/opex/research/employee-driven-process-improvements) May 05, 2017 

 

   ![repari_alexandrumagurean.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/repari_alexandrumagurean.jpg?itok=AC99gJVq) 

 



 

 

   [### Strategic Sourcing in California and New York

 ](/opex/research/strategic-sourcing-california-and-new-york) March 13, 2017 

 

   ![road.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/road.jpg?itok=8D8YlpXS) 

 



 

 

   [### Accelerating Success for Operational Excellence in Government Project: Narrative Framework

 ](/opex/research/accelerating-success-operational-excellence-government-project-narrative-framework) March 09, 2017 

 

   ![22.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/22.jpg?itok=WG9zO9jU) 

 



 

 

  

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##  Curated Reports 

 



  [### Getting Results with Lean Principles in Washington State - Results WA Initiative (State of Washington)

 ](/opex/reports/getting-results-lean-principles-washington-state-results-wa-initiative-state-washington) January 31, 2017 

 

   ![5962883335_58cebcb414_c.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/5962883335_58cebcb414_c.jpg?itok=RP-2OimB) 

 



 

 

   [### Government Efficiency and Effectiveness: Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Other Financial Benefits (United States Government Accountability Office)

 ](/opex/reports/government-efficiency-and-effectiveness-opportunities-reduce-fragmentation-overlap-and) April 27, 2016 

 

   ![266353010_1b4492d3c3_c.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/266353010_1b4492d3c3_c.jpg?itok=jBmuzsur) 

 



 

 

   [### Final Report of the Delaware Expenditure Review Committee (State of Delaware)

 ](/opex/reports/final-report-delaware-expenditure-review-committee-state-delaware) January 29, 2016 

 

   ![delaware.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/delaware.jpg?itok=DvA2jFcD) 

 



 

 

   [### Kansas Statewide Efficiency Review (State of Kansas)

 ](/opex/reports/kansas-statewide-efficiency-review-state-kansas) January 19, 2016 

 

   ![kansas.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/kansas.jpg?itok=4XlwlVvf) 

 



 

 

   [### Delivering Efficient, Effective, and Streamlined Government to Illinois Taxpayers (State of Illinois)

 ](/opex/reports/delivering-efficient-effective-and-streamlined-government-illinois-taxpayers-state) December 15, 2015 

 

   ![14627839938_eb3c31c91e_c.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/14627839938_eb3c31c91e_c.jpg?itok=yYpwMcSz) 

 



 

 

   [### North Carolina Government Efficiency and Reform Report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Government Operations (State of North Carolina)

 ](/opex/reports/north-carolina-government-efficiency-and-reform-report-joint-legislative-commission) March 05, 2015 

 

   ![751768884_01e9f2e3f4_c.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/datasmart/files/751768884_01e9f2e3f4_c.jpg?itok=5dhr3cvy) 

 



 

 

  

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