Office of Performance Through Excellence

Mission
About
Performance Data
LeanPA
GO-TIME

Mission

To work with stakeholders and together with employees at every level of government to use the Lean management improvement methods to cut red tape, become nimbler, remove inefficiencies, provide value, improve customer service, and achieve measurable results by identifying and tracking key performance indicators.

About

The new Office of Performance through Excellence (OPE) will bring performance data, GO-TIME, and Lean Management in one office. These initiatives under the new OPE will be defined, managed, and implemented to demonstrate the greatest return on the state’s investment in its people and resources through defined results. The integration of Lean, GO-TIME and performance data under a single umbrella will encourage expanded and enhanced communication, standardized practices and tangible results in real-time.

Colby Clabaugh – Executive Director

Colby Clabaugh was appointed executive director of the Governor’s Office of Performance through Excellence (OPE) in January 2019. Before being named executive director, Colby oversaw OPE’s performance management and data program as the office’s director of performance delivery.

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    Prior to joining OPE, Colby served as an executive budget specialist in the Office of the Budget, where he advised commonwealth agencies on development of performance plans, monitored progress toward agency and administration goals, and compiled and analyzed performance data as part of the budget development process.

    Colby has also served as a government innovation fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Government Performance Lab. In this role, Colby was the primary adviser to the Wolf administration for the commonwealth’s Pay for Success initiative, which sought to improve criminal justice and juvenile justice outcomes through an innovative approach to financing government services.

    Earlier in his career, Colby worked at the Urban Institute, where he coordinated and conducted research for several Center on International Development and Governance projects in the areas of local government capacity building and program evaluation. A Central Pennsylvania native, Colby received his Bachelor of Arts degree in international affairs and political science from the George Washington University. He also holds Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in politics from Princeton University.

Performance Data

OPE believes in making decisions based on outcomes, and in accurately measuring those outcomes. OPE strives to create one set of outcome-based measures that are aligned with agency core missions and administration goals. As results begin to take shape, Pennsylvania’s services will become simpler, faster and more cost efficient, that will strengthen and empower our state workforce.

LeanPA

OPE is also working with state agencies to pursue continuous process improvement using “Lean” practices. Both private and public sector organizations have used Lean to address backlogs, improve workflow, increase quality, empower employees and better meet the needs of the their customers. Through LeanPA, OPE is working to achieve the same kinds of results for the commonwealth and taxpayers.

GO-TIME

OPE is working to modernize government operations through GO-TIME in order to reduce costs and deliver better and faster services.

GO-TIME works with agencies, boards and commissions to identify opportunities to share resources, collaborate and partner with external entities to bring new ideas and best practices into state government. GO-TIME also engages employees in transformation through continuous process improvement and programs that seek out their ideas and suggestions.

Projects

GO-TIME has identified hundreds of projects with cost savings and other benefits. These savings are being reinvested into programs and used to absorb rising costs in other areas of the budget so we can continue to deliver high quality services to our citizens.