ABSTRACT
The responsibilities of federal officials in all branches of government should be determined by a continuous effort to establish national goals, to decide upon priorities, and to develop plans to implement those priorities. An implementation plan should define individual and organizational responsibilities within the federal government so that each official in the government hierarchy can relate his or her day-to-day activities to the absolute standard of “success,” realizing the national priorities and goals. Business, individuals, and lower-level governments are required to provide information to the federal government without compensation. The burden on respondents is substantial; it is estimated that the economic costs alone exceed $20 billion annually. If paperwork/information is to be effectively managed by the federal government, it is essential that techniques for control be developed and used, and methods to assess the value and burden of paperwork/information are especially important. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
