Political pundits wax on about government waste, red tape and inefficiency, but the truth is that while the federal government can learn plenty from the private sector, no magic wand would make government operate exactly like a business—and for good reasons. This week on “Transition Lab," we speak with our resident expert on government management, the Partnership for Public Service’s Jenny Mattingley, about why government runs the way it does and how political leaders can make it work better.

Jenny Mattingley serves as the vice president of government affairs at the Partnership for Public Service, where she leads initiatives to improve government performance and advocates for public servants. Previously, Mattingley served as a program manager at the Office of Management and Budget, as the director of the White House Leadership Development Program, and as the executive director of the Performance Improvement Council.  

Find a complete transcript of the episode here.