Developing and Sustaining Interagency Success for the Future
Abstract
The United States executive branch has grown substantially since the establishment of the American government. That growth translated into an enormous institution with capabilities, capacities, and authorities to handle the expanding needs of its citizens. Along with that expansion, the world in which the U.S. government functions is increasingly complex. That complexity challenges the vertical organizations of the federal, state, and local governments, necessitating a whole of government approach to problem solving. That approach has suffered numerous setbacks and failures due to a lack of leadership, training, and an understanding across organizations as they come together in interagency operations and structure. This thesis argues that to develop and sustain interagency success for the future, the U.S. must undertake initiatives along three lines of effort. First, an executive agent at the highest levels of the federal government must be tasked with monitoring, coordinating, and if necessary arbitrating interagency affairs. Second, institutionalized processes for interagency education need to become a requirement for career progression. Finally, a standardized approach to interagency education and training needs to be universally followed by executive departments and agencies. This thesis reviews current doctrine and existing presidential direction, examines successful interagency partnerships at the organizational and tactical level, and studies current methods of educating executive branch personnel. With declining budgets and increasingly complex problems, the U.S. must take seriously the need for increased interagency efficiency.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 02, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA606572
Entities
People
- Jeffrey P. Wissel
Organizations
- National Defense University