The Arizona Management System: An Evaluation of Continuous Improvement in State Government

In 2012, Arizona began implementing continuous improvement to streamline its operations and deliver more efficient government services for Arizonans. Though there have been tremendous results in the first decade of continuous improvement, including developing the Arizona Management System (AMS), GTO launched a project in September of 2022 to assess and report on the effectiveness and challenges of continuous improvement efforts in the State of Arizona.

An adult holding hands with two children

 

The rate of children in foster care in Arizona is the lowest it’s been in a decade, and critical services such as hold times for the child abuse hotline (1-888-SOS-CHILD) have also been improved

Scottsdale desert landscape, saguaros and rocks

Since 2015, more than 3,300 state agency rules have been improved or eliminated, reducing the red tape needed to do business, live or recreate in Arizona.

Agency rules govern everything from the

Oak Creek picture with clear water, trees, brush and rock formations

The flow and regulation of water in the arid Southwest is unique. The complexities of whether the state of Arizona or the federal government has jurisdiction over waterways—both continually flowing

AZ vets brings statewide resources

In the U.S. military, servicemembers learn to be leaders and problem solvers. The discipline and work ethic it takes to embody a “service before self” attitude makes veterans an invaluable asset to

Efficiency thanks to remote workforce

Though COVID-19 catalyzed remote work worldwide, the state of Arizona has offered remote work options since 1993, recognizing the benefits of positive environmental impact, increased employee