General government management capability : The federal responsibility

Abstract

The National Government must concern itself with State and I.ocal government management capability. Management capability is defined as directing roles of general government elected officials and senior-level managers. The Federal Government's interest in State and local management is based on the national government's dependence on these other jurisdictions for actual administration and delivery of services. The Federal Government is also a major cause of such management capability deficiences as exist at the State and local level. Despite recognition of need, little commitment has been made by the Federal Government to improve the central machinery of State and local government. There is no established data base from which to appraise the quality of current State and local management. The available assessments of personnel management, budgeting and accounting, policy analysis, and evaluation systems indicate that there is far to go in providing State and local chief executives with adequate management a...