Gov. Martin O'Malley Speaks on Data-Driven
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March 11, 2015 - Former Gov.
Martin O'Malley spoke on "Data-driven
government: A new approach to governing," one of his signature issues,
at the Brookings Institution. "What if we tackled our biggest
problems by using data-driven strategies instead of conventional wisdom
or the way we've always done it?" O'Malley asked. "It's about transparency and
openness and accountabilty, and it's about performance
management. It's not about left or right. It's about doing
the things that work, that move us forward. And it also is about
setting clear goals, measuring progress, and quite simply getting
things done again. You see the old ways of
governing--bureaucracy, hierarchy--these things are fading away, and a
new way of governing is emerging. And it also calls for a new way
of leadership at every level. Leadership that embraces a culture
of accountability, embraces entrepreneurial approaches to
problem-solving and embraces collaboration."
O'Malley recounted how the data-driven approach had its origins in the New York City subway system, where Lt. Jack Maple made maps showing where crimes were occurring and put "the cops on the dots," what became CompStat. He then described how he brought the approach to the City of Baltimore with CitiStat. O'Malley said the four tenets of this approach are "timely, accurate information shared by all, rapid deployment of resources, effective tactics and strategies, and relentless follow-up, always the hard part." O'Malley described some of the results Baltimore achieved using CitiStat and then talked about how he had taken the system to the state level, with StateStat. Finally, O'Malley addressed the federal level. "What are the truly big goals for our nation, and what are the actions that allow us to achieve those big goals together?" O'Malley asked. He listed some of these big goals such as job creation and security, but he also cited successes Maryland achieved in more targeted areas such reducing infant mortality, in kindergarten readiness, and in reducing preventable hospitalizations. Extrapolating what might be done if Maryland's results could be brought to the national level. O'Malley presented a picture of "a government that works." |
After his prepared speech,
O'Malley engaged in a
discussion with William A. Galston, a senior fellow at Brookings, and
he answered questions, first from reporters and then from the general
audience. Many of the reporters' questions touched on the
ongoing controversy over Hillary Clinton's emails (+). |
O'Malley is seen as a
potential candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination; he
visited South Carolina on Feb. 28, visited New Hampshire on March 6-7,
and is heading to Iowa on March 20-21, and New Hampshire again on March
31. |
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