Description
In this plain-language discussion for students, policymakers, and others, author Mitchell Weiss (management practice, public entrepreneurship, Harvard Business School) presents a vision of possibility government, defined here as public entrepreneurship, emphasizing experimentation and new technology and integrating ideas from design thinking and lean startups. Weiss draws on his experience as former chief of staff to Boston mayor Thomas Merino, his role as cofounder of the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics in Boston, and his innovations in the local response to the Boston Marathon bombing. Examples range from Airbnb to addiction treatment to contact tracing apps. The book contains b&w graphics. Annotation ©2021 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
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Can we solve big public problems anymore? Yes, we can. This provocative and inspiring book points the way.The huge challenges we face are daunting indeed: climate change, crumbling infrastructure, declining public education and social services. At the same time, we've come to accept the sad notion that government can't do new things or solve tough problems—it's too big, too slow, and mired in bureaucracy.Not so, says former public official, now Harvard Business School professor, Mitchell Weiss. The truth is, entrepreneurial spirit and savvy in government are growing, transforming the public sector's response to big problems at all levels. The key, Weiss argues, is a shift from a mindset of Probability Government—overly focused on safe solutions and mimicking so-called best practices—to Possibility Government. This means public leadership and management that's willing to boldly imagine new possibilities and to experiment.Weiss shares the three basic tenets of this new way of governing:Government that can imagine: Seeing problems as opportunities and involving citizens in designing solutionsGovernment that can try new things: Testing and experimentation as a regular part of solving public problemsGovernment that can scale: Harnessing platform techniques for innovation and growthThe lessons unfold in the timely episodes Weiss has seen and studied: the US Special Operations Command prototyping of a hoverboard for chasing pirates; a heroin hackathon in opioid-ravaged Cincinnati; a series of experiments in Singapore to rein in Covid-19; among many others.At a crucial moment in the evolution of government's role in our society, We the Possibility provides inspiration and a positive model, along with crucial guardrails, to help shape progress for generations to come.
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