Results that Matter: Improving Communities by Engaging Citizens, Measuring Performance, and Getting Things Done

By Paul M. Coates, David Swain, Paul D. Epstein, et al.

Book Overview

Today's communities--whether they are currently strong, or struggling to survive--face difficult challenges if they want to be tomorrow's healthy, vibrant communities. The challenge for leaders and citizens of modern communities is not just to solve specific problems today. Their real challenge is to keep learning from their experience so they can keep improving their communities tomorrow. Results That Matter will provide a new governance framework for using valuable tools of community improvement--especially performance measurement and citizen engagement--to empower communities to achieve the outcomes their citizens most desire. Government and nonprofit managers will learn how to combine these tools in new ways, not only to achieve one-time improvement of their organizations and communities, but to foster continual community renewal and improvement. The benefits and practicality of the framework and related practices will be reinforced by case examples from 25 communities across the country. The book will offer "how to" guidance to public and nonprofit managers, including promising practices for effective communities, and new roles for citizens, community leaders, and managers.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787960586
• ISBN13: 9780787960582
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass Inc Pub
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 1.3" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent presentation of research through case studies

I am using this book as part of my background literature which will be cited in my master's thesis work for my Executive Master of Public Administration ~ my work is focusing on analysis of whether dialogue methodologies presently used by local governments in California significantly and measurably influence decision-making processes. This book is an excellent resource for any serious researcher doing work in the fields of civic engagement / dialogue.