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Private Sector Management Meets Public Sector Challenges
Patrick M. Barkey
"If we do a poor job in providing public services, we risk driving talented people and new investment away, and shrinking the pie for everyone."
It has certainly been an interesting year in Indiana state government. In the wake of an electoral outcome that brought a new party to the governor’s office, as well as a majority in both houses of the legislature, the changes in just about everything – people, attitude, and results – have been dizzying. We may not all be happy with every change that has taken place, but it’s been interesting – and even a little exhausting – keeping up with them all.
The preference of the new administration for individuals with success in the private sector to lead the major agencies in state government is a change that asks a very old question. Do business people make good bureaucrats? The outstanding team that the Governor has assembled to manage the state’s largest and most important agencies come up short in one area – public sector experience. How that blank spot on their resumes figures into their job performance is something we are about to find out.
Trade Balance, March 2005
Retail Sales, April 2005