What Happened?
Louisville, Kentucky, recently launched the LouieStat program as an improvement management tool to increase efficiency in the public sector while transforming operational workflow throughout the city’s government.
The Goal
LouieStat is based on the foundation established by previous stat programs launched in other communities, typically centered around law enforcement initiatives, as well as private sector strategies to make better use of resources. The data-driven approach to implementing change lays out 21 city goals over the course of six years, calling on all public departments to create strategic plans of how each milestone will be achieved through collaborations within the community. Using data analytics allows city managers to make more informed decisions based on accurate, up-to-date reports.
LouieStat directly connects public sector performance to strategy, creates training opportunities to encourage proactive improvements and allows for more cooperation with private sector entities to accelerate results and economic activity. Public employees are tied to all strategies, involved in the planning and implementation phases, and have their skills monitored to identify areas where performance can be improved. The model increases employee engagement while driving innovation and teamwork.
Performance Improvement
Louisville has created an Office of Performance Improvement that incorporates LouieStat into its overarching efforts to enhance public management through ongoing analysis and adjustment. The office works with agencies to address three core areas of improvement:
Strategic Planning
- Performance Management
- Continuous Improvement Consulting and Training
The office assists departments in developing a strategic plan that identifies what goals should be defined and the necessary changes to achieve these results. LouieStat provides each department with unique employee and organization performance data to track progress and pinpoint both successes and failures. Continual reporting and review of data reports accelerates problem solving for a more efficient public sector.
Evaluation of Stats
The Fels Institute of Government reported on the methodologies used to implement Stat programs in cities and states across the country, identifying obstacles that have arisen when programs were expanded to multiple government departments. As the public sector is tightly strapped for cash, the proliferation of Stat programs is expected to continue aiding budgetary efforts to reduce spending while enhancing innovation and growth.
While many governments have successfully adopted Stat programs and reached predetermined benchmarks, common problems have been reported. The benefits of a data-driven approach to performance improvement include:
- Enhanced public service costing the taxpayer less
- Faster, more accurate problem-solving capabilities for decision makers
- Increased reporting tools that boost accountability and transparency
Common obstacles that arise in Stat programs include:
- Implementing the methodology throughout all government departments seamlessly
- Sustaining the impact of the program for continual improvements
- Adopting individual programs for each initiative rather than consolidating Stat efforts
The report also addresses common misconceptions of Stat programs that may lead governments to abandon projects or launch them too soon. In reality, Stat programs properly deployed have not created conflict between administrators and departments, but can only be successful if chief executives are in agreement with the strategy.
Data Driving Change
Gov1 has followed other data initiatives transforming public sector culture.