We Don't Make Widgets: Overcoming the Myths That Keep Government From Radically Improving

by Ken Miller

Written for middle- and senior-level managers in state, city and county government, We Don’t Make Overcoming the Myths That Keep Government from Radically Improving explodes the myths that prevent dramatic improvement in government operations. If you’re interested in a new way of thinking about what you do, who you do it for and why you do it, this book — part of the Governing Management Series — is for you. Read it and manage with the best!

Genres: Nonfiction, Leadership, Management, Business

124 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must-read for anyone who works for the government! I enjoyed the writing style and definitley - the message! I admit I was doubtful at first but he basically uses the whole book (short- only about 120 pages) to make his case, which did get a tiny bit redundant but in the end was compelling. I was both reassured and disappointed with the last chapter though. He seemed to be (finally) offering a larger perspective on how to change organizations but it was too brief - do I sense a sequel...?

[Chrissie Rakowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good points early in, but that was it

He mentioned a few good points about improving the government widgets and that much of the government inefficiency is the systems, because the people are motivated and get broken down mentally. It's true. I've never had a government job that was anything but. That being said, the rest of the book just felt like him bragging about all these government projects and agencies that are just nothing until he and he alone arrived. If this book wasn't required reading at my current government agency, I wouldn't have read it. Despite the fact every person in our agency is required to read this, clearly concepts aren't converted clearly because we track useless metrics that punish employees while catering to people who violate environmental law, my manager is by far the most aggravating, utterly useless, and both verbally and emotionally abusive manager I've ever had in my life, and yet our "widget" is still not user friendly, takes sound 4.5-5 hours to finish each widget, by hand mind you, when an efficient system should be able to do it in about an hour, and then we get punished and a whip cracked on us to "go faster then because you must be just incompetent". The veterans in our unit have said their drill sergeant was get to them then this manager. So much for " change management "

So yeah. Not readily digestible, sounds like bragging, and has done little to change the department I work in even when required reading

[P. Mulitalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes government performance can be a hard thing to understand and even more difficult to improve. Ken Miller captures a ton of experience and puts it to good use. This book is practical, accessible, and pragmatic. I have recommended it to many who have expressed a desire to know how to really improve government performance.

[Alie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my father’s book. I remember fondly of him writing this book. Any government agency whether local or international should take a peek into this book because you can always learn something, especially reading it twice. My father does have other books as well that people should check out
Those books are:
Extreme Government Makeover
The Change Agent’s Guide to Radical Improvement

[Numberbox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing- it is just the right length, contains practical yet relatively simple observations and is written with well-deserved authority and humour. It should be mandatory reading for all government staff. I will be looking up more of Ken Miller's work.

[Stefan Martiyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential read for all government employees, especially current and future leaders.

[Laura Knaapen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has very good content but the writer does not deliver it in a good nor interesting way.

[stephen f. comer · Rating 3 out of 5]

good

[Melissa Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear perspective

Want to buy multiple copies and use it for a book study to transform the support aspects of our agency.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite things is trying to adopt traditional business practices to government. This book is amazing at changing the conversation in government in order to improve results.

[Nathan Otto]

Some interesting thoughts...I actually think I may have to re-read it to fully grasp some of the ideas/exercises. Luckily it's only just over 100 pages.

[Bonnie Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enlightening little read that provided a different way of thinking about Government from an employee's perspective. The book proves how Government does, indeed, make widgets, and speaks to the many myths that, unfortunately, results in various outcomes not living up to maximum potential.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book for my class. And while it did have some things I could agree with I felt there were some elements lacking.

The books goal: "The purpose of this book is to radically improve government by changing the beliefs of the managers who run it. Beliefs are powerful. Beliefs drive our behaviors. Beliefs can change the world. And it is my contention in this book that it is our beliefs that stand in the way of the progress we all want to make." Pg. viii

It does offer solutions: not just what not to do, but what to do.
It also talks about the myths of working in government: we don't make widgets, we don't have customers, and we're not here to make a profit. I can agree with the logic behind these being myths and can agree that these mindsets are to the detriment of getting the job done.

However.....

The idea that motivation alone will lead to satisfaction in employees is just not true in my view. While motivation is super important for employees there are things beyond that that leads to a satisfactory work place. And I've worked at jobs where the motivation is helping the kids, but at the end of the day I also have to take care of myself: my mental health, keeping a roof over my head, and my physical well being. If a job requires you to be constantly on the clock, doesn't pay enough to cover your basic needs or puts you in danger without proper protections then that job has failed with employee satisfaction. Motivation only goes so far.

Further, this books get pretty repetitive at times. I felt like the author was just trying to up the page count rather than trying to get new ideas across or trying to clarify the ideas he was presenting.

On top of this this book is a little dated. I mean it's only been 8 years, but I was 18 when this book came out and the world has changed a lot since then.

[Sidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny way to express a doctrine idea--governing is like business. managers need to know make widgets between factory and customer, which is like put their belief and value in detailed, specific, people-wanted actions, improvement and changes.

you can read it for fun and get some story about government. easy read and wonderful reading experience.

[Jason Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't recommend this book to my friends that are educators after the first read. After the second read I think that everyone should read this book. The message is simple: change your thoughts or else,,,,

[Sandy Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly decent book that helps look at our work in government differently. We are currently going through a process of defining measures and some reorganization, and I got a few ideas that will help.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some practical guides. What is new, is applying this to government offices. Take on the Post Office PLEASE. One of the older government institutions, and one of the worst!. If we can't get it right, how do we plan on fixing the IRS and Health Care. OMG!

[Du · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty straight forward and simple in its presentation. This was a good book with useful information and it was not a boring management book, which is a nice change of pace.

[Cheryl Beamon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

As veteran of working with government organizations this book is must read for all us commit ed to providing better services and products