If we can put a man on the moon : getting big things done in government / William D. Eggers, John O'Leary

The American people are frustrated with their government-dismayed by a series of high-profile failures (Iraq, Katrina, the financial meltdown) that seems to just keep getting longer. Yet the US has a proud history of great achievements: victory in World War II, the national highway system, welfare reform, the moon landing. The US need more successes like these to reclaim the government's legacy of competence. In If We Can Put a Man on the Moon, William Eggers and John O'Leary explain how to do it. The key? Understand-and avoid-the common pitfalls that trip up public-sector leaders during the journey from idea to results. The authors recount surprisingly entertaining stories of public policy initiatives that succeeded beyond all imagination, including the Marshall Plan, the 1996 welfare reform and Londons Congestion Charge. They also find lessons in failures, including Bostons Big Dig and the Challenger disaster. If We Can Put a Man on the Moon shows how government really works with an optimistic and non-partisan look at the kinds of large government endeavors that have shaped US history and that are unfolding in the news right now. Ultimately, however, the authors show us that good ideas are just the beginning of a successful initiative. With proper design, commitment, implementation and re-evaluation, our leaders can once again accomplish big things. The authors identify pitfalls including: The Partial Map Trap: Fumbling handoffs throughout project execution The Tolstoy Syndrome: Seeing only the possibilities you want to see Design-Free Design: Designing policies for passage through the legislature, not for implementation The Overconfidence Trap: Creating unrealistic budgets and timelines The Complacency Trap: Failing to recognize that a program needs change At a time of unprecedented challenges, this book, with its abundant examples and hands-on advice, is the essential guide to making government work better. A must-read for every public official, this book will be of interest to anyone who cares about the future of democracy.