Can we solve big public problems anymore? Yes, we can. This provocative and inspiring book points the way.

The huge challenges we face are daunting indeed: climate change, crumbling infrastructure, declining public education and social services. At the same time, we've come to accept the sad notion that government can't do new things or solve tough problems—it's too big, too slow, and mired in bureaucracy.

Not so, says former public official, now Harvard Business School professor, Mitchell Weiss. The truth is, entrepreneurial spirit and savvy in government are growing, transforming the public sector's response to big problems at all levels. The key, Weiss argues, is a shift from a mindset of Probability Government—overly focused on safe solutions and mimicking so-called best practices—to Possibility Government. This means public leadership and management that's willing to boldly imagine new possibilities and to experiment.

Weiss shares the three basic tenets of this new way of governing:

• Government that can imagine: Seeing problems as opportunities and involving citizens in designing solutions
• Government that can try new things: Testing and experimentation as a regular part of solving public problems
• Government that can scale: Harnessing platform techniques for innovation and growth

The lessons unfold in the timely episodes Weiss has seen and studied: the US Special Operations Command prototyping of a hoverboard for chasing pirates; a heroin hackathon in opioid-ravaged Cincinnati; a series of experiments in Singapore to rein in Covid-19; among many others.

At a crucial moment in the evolution of government's role in our society, We the Possibility provides inspiration and a positive model, along with crucial guardrails, to help shape progress for generations to come.

About the Author

Mitchell Weiss is a Professor of Management Practice and the Richard L. Menschel Faculty Fellow at Harvard Business School. He created and teaches the school's course on public entrepreneurship. Prior to joining HBS in 2014, Weiss was chief of staff to Boston's Mayor Thomas Menino. During this time, he cofounded the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics.

You can find Mitchell Weiss at:
hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=183463
Twitter: twitter.com/mitchwei?lang=en
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mitchellbweiss/

Reviews

"The impact of COVID-19 has raised public expectations on the government's role in problem-solving and innovation, making them more significant than ever and providing an opportunity to redefine what's possible. We the Possibility offers an actionable framework to inspire and equip public-sector leaders ready to begin this journey." - Porchlight Books

Advance Praise for We the Possibility:

"We need government to be more innovative and inventive, and in We the Possibility, Mitchell Weiss shows that achieving it isn't a pipe dream. It's within our reach." - Michael R. Bloomberg, 108th Mayor of New York City; founder, Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies

"In We the Possibility, Mitchell Weiss offers a myriad of examples that show how to make our government operate better at a time when we most need it. This compelling book is well worth a read." - Penny Pritzker, entrepreneur; former US Secretary of Commerce

"In a sector crying out for innovation but where politics punishes failure, Mitch Weiss shows us how and why thoughtful risk-taking in public policy and government is the path to a hopeful future." - Deval Patrick, former Governor of Massachusetts

"We the Possibility is an important book for bending the arc of progress toward public good. A must-read for public-sector leaders looking to build bridges between government and top innovators in science and technology." - Ash Carter, Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School; former US Secretary of Defense

"Innovation is hard. Innovation in government is a lot harder. Mitch Weiss, one of the leading experts on civic innovation, has written an inspiring and practical guide to the art of the possible, of actually getting new things done in government." - Dan Doctoroff, founder and CEO, Sidewalk Labs

"This extraordinary book vanquishes the idea that government innovation is an oxymoron. Through deft combinations of public-sector adventure stories and thoughtful analysis, Weiss leads readers out of the dead ends of binary thinking and into a world in which government is as flexible, imaginative, and hopeful as the people it serves." - Jennifer Bradley, founding Director, Center for Urban Innovation, Aspen Institute

Book Information
ISBN 9781633699199
Author Mitchell Weiss
Format Hardback
Page Count 288
Imprint Harvard Business Review Press
Publisher Harvard Business Review Press