Bending the Cost Curve of Government

Pete CodellaArticles

Kristen Cox loves operations. Sit down with her for any number of minutes, and you’ll have the opportunity to engage in a lively discussion on organizational performance and resource optimization.

It’s no surprise, then, that Cox—executive director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB)—created the Utah Ops Conference as a labor of love.

“We spend so much time on the treadmill, and this conference offers a chance for people to step back, evaluate their work and figure out how they can do a better job,” said Cox.

Presented by Governor Gary Herbert and produced by GOMB and Utah Media Group, the Utah Ops Conference will take place September 2 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Now in its second year, the conference is designed to support organizations in improving service, quality and cost with evidence-based practices.

“Everything we do, whether in government or the private sector, is about systems and processes,” said Cox. “As managers, where we focus our attention, how we spend our time and when we intervene can either create chaos in our organizations or create organizations that flourish.”

Rami Goldratt, CEO of Goldratt Consulting and a leader in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), will deliver a keynote on the importance of management focus. Breakout session topics include employee engagement, project management, outcome-based performance and case studies in improving quality and service while reducing cost.

“Utah has a lot of agencies that already excel in this arena, and we want to continue to build upon that success,” said Cox. “Opportunities to improve exist in every environment, and the key is good execution.”

Registration for the conference is now open, but seating is limited.