"The Most Efficient Office in the World" It’s run by the United States government

[jtuck004]

from a story in Slate...

A few months ago, we had lunch with a friend who is a management consultant. He arrived at the restaurant raving about the fantastic experience he’d just had at the passport office on Hudson Street in lower Manhattan, where he’d gone for a need-it-by-tomorrow expedited passport. Having booked an appointment by phone, he arrived to have his application materials checked by a greeter (lest his papers be out of order, which might hold up others later in the process), who then handed him a number and sent him to a waiting room. Five minutes later, his number was called, and he was asked to hand in his paperwork. Then he was on his way; he had his new passport the next day. There was nothing that McKinsey, Accenture, or any other workflow consultant could have done to improve his experience.

It turns out our consulting friend isn’t the only one singing the passport office’s praises. The Hudson Street branch gets 4.5 stars on Yelp, accompanied by mostly glowing commentary (recent reviews: “absolutely fantastic,” “five mother effin stars”). This will surely come as a surprise to those who view the U.S. government as a refuge for pointless regulation, lazy bureaucrats, and layers of inefficiency: A State Department–run passport office sits at the vanguard of workplace effectiveness.
...
If only it were so simple. There’s an emerging body of research that chalks up these productivity gaps to the all-too-human ways that different companies (and divisions within a single organization) are managed. The fact that management matters—a lot—shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone who has ever worked under a good manager and also a bad one: Good managers coach, listen, support, and make their employees feel like they’re making progress. Bad ones don’t—often in uniquely horrible ways. And if this is true at for-profit companies, why wouldn’t it be true for branches of the government?
...
But Hoffman is content with his 30-year career in government. He’s served his country and has no interest in becoming, say, a regional manager for Costco or Wal-Mart. If we can’t pay him and other outstanding public-sector managers the salary that’s commensurate with the social value they’re creating, we should at least give them the recognition they deserve. Perhaps in the process we could imbue the much-maligned title of government manager with the respect that will attract the next generation’s finest to a life of public service.

Here.

There's more, interesting reading. I contrast this with my experience at the SS office recently, two different worlds. The above article suggests that how the offices are run have a lot to do with leadership. Regardless, in a time when public service can use good news, here's some.

For those who want to point at government inefficiency, and cry for lower taxes, this isn't the office that's going to help their cause.

[NMDemDist2]

1. our little Post Office is wonderful

even when short staffed, the continue to smile and move the line along.

The National Parks are always a joy.

So much of the government is run so well.

[randome]

2. The GOP should be roundly ridiculed when they say private enterprise is ALWAYS better run.

I have worked in many a corporate office. Nothing compares to the bureaucracy and inefficiencies of corporate middle managers.

Nothing.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Hoyt]

3. I've worked in government and private industry. I think the government was better run.

Plus, working for government - or true nonprofits - sure beats working for people out to find ways to put another nickel in some Ahole's pocket, and little else.