Over the past several months, Governor Sanford’s Commission on Management, Accountability and Performance (MAP Commission) has devoted considerable effort to examining how state government works. The extensive recommendations provided in the Commission’s report would, if adopted, have a significant impact on how state government operates, and the merits of these various proposals have already received considerable media attention.

Some of the issues considered by the Commission are also the topic of two of the articles in this issue of Public Policy & Practice. In his article, “Good to Great: Some Lessons for State Government,” Ed Thomas examines some fundamental concepts related to operating state government in South Carolina. He argues that, despite the problems identified by the MAP Commission, government in South Carolina is good, but not great. He also discusses a number of factors, including leadership development, organizational culture, and the use of technology, that could move state government toward greatness.

One potential outcome of the MAP Commission’s recommendations is some restructuring of state government. In Richard Young’s piece he examines a number of issues related to implementing any such restructuring. As he notes, implementing restructuring can be extraordinarily complex and, in many cases, is poorly executed. Factors such as lack of planning, inadequate resources, and organizational resistance can limit the effectiveness of any attempt at restructuring. He explores several strategies that should be considered in implementing any restructuring efforts successfully.

In the article, “Public Attitudes Toward Planning and Development in Rock Hill,” Scott Huffmon and B.J. Thomas examine how the citizens of Rock Hill feel about development in their city. After describing the history of some recent development efforts, the authors investigate public support for various development approaches, such as converting vacant textile mills, developing a light rail or trolley system, and improving neighborhoods near downtown. This article highlights the types of decisions and challenges that confront areas across the state as they consider development issues.

Christine Steagall’s article, “Addressing Regional Priorities Through the DOD Region 4 Pollution Prevention Partnership,” provides a brief description of a project that has been undertaken to increase pollution prevention at military installations in the region. This project represents a joint effort among the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, state agencies, military installations and universities in the region aimed at enhancing base-level environmental compliance and performance through pollution prevention.

Comments and suggestions about the journal can be sent to young-richard@sc.edu.