OVERVIEW
"My experience in the Senior Executives in State and
Local Government program was truly amazing. The coursework offered fresh ideas
and new perspectives to those of us committed to public service. It made us
realize what we are truly able to accomplish on behalf of the people we represent.
I believe the friendships and associations that were developed in those three
weeks will last a lifetime."
-Chris Castillian, Deputy Chief of Staff,Governor Bill Owens, class of June 2003.
Senior executives in state and local governments face greater demands from a skeptical public today than at any time in recent decades. Across the country, revenues have fallen sharply, the need for services has spiked, and trust in government has plummeted. To exercise effective leadership in this difficult environment, officials in government and nonprofit organizations need the knowledge and skills to develop creative solutions under tight constraints and increased public scrutiny.
The Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government provides a balance of traditional and hands-on learning experiences to help seasoned public officials meet the changing needs of their constituents and communities. In particular, this program enables participants to become more effective public managers by:
- Challenging assumptions about how to exercise leadership in the public sector.
- Developing new conceptual frameworks for addressing policy issues.
- Examining innovative partnerships and new models of collaborative governance.
- Exploring the relationship between citizens and their government.
- Understanding the behavioral dimensions of decision-making.
- Exchanging ideas with experienced faculty and a diverse group of colleagues.
This three-week program operates as an interactive classroom, where faculty and participants work together on real-life case studies and learn from each other. One of the most frequently cited problems of public officials is how to create and engage in public discourse about difficult subjects. Participants will be in an environment where the classroom serves as a forum for raising difficult issues and practicing the skill of creating and maintaining a conversation that leads to change. Through interactive exercises in the Harvard Decision Science Laboratory, participants will also gain a deeper understanding of their own biases and attitudes as well as personal insights that can sharpen decision making.