Book Review: Linda J. Bilmes & W. Scott Gould The People Factor: Strengthening America by Investing in Public Service Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2009. 272 pp. $22.95 (paperback)

Date01 December 2010
Published date01 December 2010
DOI10.1177/0734371X10382088
Subject MatterArticles
/tmp/tmp-1838JBqm0VqjvD/input R
8ROPO
30410.1
P3820
177/0734371X10382088Book ReviewReview of Public Personnel
8
Administration
© 2010 SAGE Publications
Reprints and permission: http://www.
sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav
Review of Public Personnel Administration
30(4) 486 –490
Book Review
© 2010 SAGE Publications
Reprints and permission: http://www.
sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav
DOI: 10.1177/0734371X10382088
http://roppa.sagepub.com
Linda J. Bilmes & W. Scott Gould
The People Factor: Strengthening America by Investing in Public Service
Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2009. 272 pp. $22.95 (paperback).
Reviewed by: Deena Bayoumi, North Carolina State University
DOI: 10.1177/0734371X10382088
In the preface of their new book, The People Factor, Linda J. Bilmes and W. Scott
Gould argue that a new model for the government’s personnel system is needed, and
though calls for federal government reform are not new phenomena, the authors set
out to introduce a contemporary blueprint for reform based on a “people factor” strat-
egy. In contrast to management techniques such as “total quality management” or “time-
based competition,” the “people factor” is a fundamental value system that concentrates
on motivating every employee by recognizing their contribution to the success of the
enterprise. As a result, there is a need to “establish an environment in which people are
recognized as the government’s core strategic asset” and “manage the investment in
human capital strategically in order to deliver the highest possible quality of government”
(pp. x-xi). This blueprint for strengthening public service is structured around a num-
ber of best human resource practices that have worked well in other organizations and
are designed to attract and retain talented professionals. Focusing on training, creden-
tialing of supervisors, leadership skills, greater flexibility, and performance manage-
ment, the authors maintain that the best single investment to strengthen the nation is to
upgrade the skills and competence of the workforce. As they note, this goes beyond pay
increases or offering additional benefits. It means leveraging the federal employee’s
knowledge, performance, and commitment to public service.
The book begins by identifying problems associated with the current personnel
system and illustrates costs associated with inaction. The book is divided into 11 chap-
ters and contains 6 appendices that include author surveys, summaries of key laws and
reforms pertaining to the civil service as well as a brief history of personnel reform in
the federal government. The primary objective of the authors is to pinpoint fundamen-
tal challenges associated with the current personnel system using surveys, case stud-
ies, and interviews of individuals in both the public and private sector. The authors
follow this discussion by...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT