Facing its greatest domestic challenges since the Great Depression, America is waking up to the realization that government is still important. In their new book, The People Factor: Strengthening America by Investing in Public Service, Harvard professor Linda J. Bilmes and IBM Vice President W. Scott Gould argue that the country cannot prosper without a strong, highly functioning federal work force to manage the government. The authors call for an investment of $10 billion to improve recruiting, training and management of the federal workforce predicting that investment will yield $300-$600 billion in productivity gains. Packed with cost and performance data as well as new research on what motivates applicants for government jobs, these former government executives provide a compelling business case for investing in the civil service so that it may better serve the nation. A must read for policy makers, civil servants and citizens who demand more from government.
Highlights of the book include:
- Extensive original survey research
- Case studies from government and the military
- Interviews with leading thinkers on strategic human capital
- A number of specific proposed innovations
- A detailed proposal for a nationwide effort to train and revitalize the
public service
Congressional Testimony on Working for America Act »
Nationwide Surveys of College Students and Private Sector Employees »