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Bridgebuilders: How Government Can Transcend Boundaries to Solve Big Problems
In the face of ever more complex societal challenges, this book provides an essential new model for transforming the public sector and getting things done.
Pandemics. Climate change. Refugee resettlement. Global supply chains. We face a new generation of complex problems that stretch across the public and private sectors and flow over organizational boundaries. To meet the moment, we need a fresh, new approach that strengthens institutions and government agencies by breaking free from organizational boxes and rigid, top-down leadership.
As William D. Eggers, executive director of Deloitte's Center for Government Insights, and Donald F. Kettl, public management scholar, show in this indispensable book, we need a government of bridgebuilders who collaborate with partners—inside and outside government—to get the job done. These leaders manage horizontally instead of vertically; they see their role as connectors; and they identify which players have the assets needed to solve the unprecedented problems at hand.
Each chapter examines one of the ten core principles of bridgebuilding and features practical tips and dynamic cases of how effective leaders have put each bridgebuilding principle to work. The book also includes a special section that helps government leaders create a hundred-day bridgebuilding plan.
Throughout, Eggers and Kettl tell fascinating and instructive stories about some of today's bridgebuilders—federal, state, and local government leaders who transcend boundaries, partner across sectors, and get stuff done.
Trusted and effective government has never been more important than today. Bridgebuilders provides a new model that current government decision makers—as well as young leaders who aspire to public service—can learn from and apply right now to transform government and restore public trust.
Pandemics. Climate change. Refugee resettlement. Global supply chains. We face a new generation of complex problems that stretch across the public and private sectors and flow over organizational boundaries. To meet the moment, we need a fresh, new approach that strengthens institutions and government agencies by breaking free from organizational boxes and rigid, top-down leadership.
As William D. Eggers, executive director of Deloitte's Center for Government Insights, and Donald F. Kettl, public management scholar, show in this indispensable book, we need a government of bridgebuilders who collaborate with partners—inside and outside government—to get the job done. These leaders manage horizontally instead of vertically; they see their role as connectors; and they identify which players have the assets needed to solve the unprecedented problems at hand.
Each chapter examines one of the ten core principles of bridgebuilding and features practical tips and dynamic cases of how effective leaders have put each bridgebuilding principle to work. The book also includes a special section that helps government leaders create a hundred-day bridgebuilding plan.
Throughout, Eggers and Kettl tell fascinating and instructive stories about some of today's bridgebuilders—federal, state, and local government leaders who transcend boundaries, partner across sectors, and get stuff done.
Trusted and effective government has never been more important than today. Bridgebuilders provides a new model that current government decision makers—as well as young leaders who aspire to public service—can learn from and apply right now to transform government and restore public trust.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2023
14 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 4, 2023
Really enjoyed this book! A lot of great examples of the ways objectives and policy goals are met through partnership. Many references to work funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies which was fun to listen to given my history. The work is very hard, but the pursuit is important and people are better for it. While there were many state and local government examples, many were federal government focused which is fine, but would have loved even more local government!
I especially loved the chapter on the importance of data!
I especially loved the chapter on the importance of data!
May 22, 2023
As Stevo’s Novel Ideas, I am a long-time book reviewer, member of the media, an Influencer, and a content provider. I received this book as a free review copy from either the publisher, a publicist, or the author, and have not been otherwise compensated for reviewing or recommending it. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This book is Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 5/21. In the face of ever more complex societal challenges, this book provides an essential new model for transforming the public sector and getting things done.
In the 1960s, Sesame Street's Bob McGrath sang "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?" The video I remember featured a grocer and a doctor, two of "the people that you meet each day." In 2023, however, the people you meet each day are increasingly homeless and engaged in criminal activity. My neighborhood's Nextdoor online community site, for example, has become dominated by posts about sightings of and complaints about homeless people and their camps, asking for police, elected officials, and organizations to help solve the issue.
Public issues such as homelessness are becoming more complex, as there is no one agency tasked with solving the issue. Instead, there are multiple overlapping governmental jurisdictions (dealing with policing, drugs, mental health, jobs, housing, etc.) that may operate at cross-purposes, with some even advocating that we leave homeless people alone.
What are the alternatives? In their new book "Bridgebuilders," William D. Eggers and Donald F. Kettl say that governments should be un-siloed: functioning as a network (bridgebuilding) instead of focusing on a top-down methodology.
As part of a 100-day leadership transformation strategy, the authors present 10 core principles: steps that will lead to new connections with better outcomes and increased public value. The principles include knocking down silos, seeking mutual advantages, nurturing private partnerships, building trustworthy networks, focusing on outcomes, redefining accountability, and cultivating joint leadership. Examples include the U.S. Census Bureau, the responses to COVID-19, The Nature Conservancy, and MillionTreesNYC.
Today's government leaders need to know how and where to reach out to help solve our complex social, economic, and political issues. "Bridgebuilders" offers a framework and strategic blueprint for cooperation, leading to an improved chance for successful outcomes, helping us get to the grocer and doctor without fear of a confrontation.
Find more Business Books of the Week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more reviewed and recommended books and products by searching for me on Google.
This book is Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 5/21. In the face of ever more complex societal challenges, this book provides an essential new model for transforming the public sector and getting things done.
In the 1960s, Sesame Street's Bob McGrath sang "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?" The video I remember featured a grocer and a doctor, two of "the people that you meet each day." In 2023, however, the people you meet each day are increasingly homeless and engaged in criminal activity. My neighborhood's Nextdoor online community site, for example, has become dominated by posts about sightings of and complaints about homeless people and their camps, asking for police, elected officials, and organizations to help solve the issue.
Public issues such as homelessness are becoming more complex, as there is no one agency tasked with solving the issue. Instead, there are multiple overlapping governmental jurisdictions (dealing with policing, drugs, mental health, jobs, housing, etc.) that may operate at cross-purposes, with some even advocating that we leave homeless people alone.
What are the alternatives? In their new book "Bridgebuilders," William D. Eggers and Donald F. Kettl say that governments should be un-siloed: functioning as a network (bridgebuilding) instead of focusing on a top-down methodology.
As part of a 100-day leadership transformation strategy, the authors present 10 core principles: steps that will lead to new connections with better outcomes and increased public value. The principles include knocking down silos, seeking mutual advantages, nurturing private partnerships, building trustworthy networks, focusing on outcomes, redefining accountability, and cultivating joint leadership. Examples include the U.S. Census Bureau, the responses to COVID-19, The Nature Conservancy, and MillionTreesNYC.
Today's government leaders need to know how and where to reach out to help solve our complex social, economic, and political issues. "Bridgebuilders" offers a framework and strategic blueprint for cooperation, leading to an improved chance for successful outcomes, helping us get to the grocer and doctor without fear of a confrontation.
Find more Business Books of the Week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more reviewed and recommended books and products by searching for me on Google.
April 3, 2025
I liked the conversation around intergovernmental relations and the beginning chapters had more ideas and examples of how this has happened in the past. But the end, the message felt too worn out.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews