Getting Agencies to Work Together: The Practice and Theory of Managerial Craftsmanship

by Eugene Bardach

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Collaboration between government agencies, an old joke goes, is an unnatural act committed by nonconsenting adults. Eugene Bardach argues that today's opinion climate favoring more results-oriented government makes collaboration a lot more natural--though it is still far from easy. In this book, Bardach diagnoses the difficulties, explains how they are sometimes overcome, and offers practical ideas for public managers, advocates, and others interested in developing interagency collaborative networks. Bardach provides examples from diverse policy areas, including children, youth, and family services; welfare-to-work; antipollution enforcement; fire prevention; and ecosystem management.
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Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Mandy Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insight and prudent for today's leaders.

[Will Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book supports the use of collaboration among government agencies to improve the quality and effectiveness of their work. By coordinating and collaborating work efforts, agencies can work smarter and are better able to serve the needs of the public. The author speaks about interagency connectivity as an innovation, as many agencies have traditionally operated in a vacuum without engaging each other and sharing information. This book stresses the benefits of agencies’ shared efforts to increase the value of their work. While the focus is speficially about federal government agencies, it could easily apply to state and local governments, non government agencies, as well as government/non-government agency partnerships.