Director of Strategic Planning and Performance Improvement, Executive Office of Administration and Finance
State government is a complex organization – not a single entity but a diverse collection of public bodies that work on behalf of the people of Massachusetts. Making such a varied assembly of entities function as effectively as possible is no easy task but is vital to ensure that every tax dollar is stretched as far as possible. This difficult job falls to the Executive Office of Administration and Finance (A&F) and its agencies and affiliated organizations. If state government were a steam ship, A&F and its agencies would be its boiler room – helping to power the ship of state with resources and policies that enable it to deliver better results for the people being served.
Behind the front-line services we all rely on are public officials who ensure that state government operates well, making sure that: computer data centers are working so the state police can access the latest crime information; state buildings are maintained so they don’t waste energy and thus our money; paper and furniture in state offices are purchased at best value to guarantee savings; state workers are well trained for the jobs they are in and can serve people better; more affordable health insurance plans can be purchased by state residents; or taxpayers can get their tax refunds in a timely manner. The people who perform these and other critical tasks are in A&F and its agencies.
Making state government more effective can’t happen if its boiler room isn’t working optimally. That is why A&F has published strategic plans for 14 of its agencies and affiliated organizations. Why is this important? 1) These plans are not just lists of tasks – they contain clear goals and outcome measures that will be used assess whether goals are being achieved; and 2) The plans are publicly available and the public can hold A&F and its agencies to account for the results they deliver. You can find these strategic plans at A&F’s “Our Goals and Strategies” page here – take a look!
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