Reassessing and Reconciling Reinvention in the American States: Exploring State Administrative Performance

This article compares two philosophical and empirical approaches to the study of administrative performance across the American states. The Government Performance Project's "Grading the States" series relies on a traditional top-down management reform and improvement philosophy. Its corresponding survey and measures recognize strong management systems surrounding the executive and staff services. The American State Administrator's Project includes measures of "reinvention," several policy initiatives from a bottom-up perspective that emphasizes client interests and facilitation of line agency innovations. The survey instruments, administrative aims, and implications of each reform strategy are discussed.