Steve Goldsmith's latest column in Governing magazine argues that "government managers should examine their value proposition just the same. In fact, revisiting "why" an agency is involved in a particular activity can be a crucial step in finding better, faster, cheaper ways of delivering value to citizens and taxpayers."
He goes on to examine how Linda Gibbs transformed NYC homeless services and Michelle Rhee transformed DC schools after asking "better at doing what?" Both are great examples of what happens when a government leader focuses on what they want to accomplish rather than how to sustain the current system.