A Quest for Excellence

Abstract

The Commission's recommendations are intended to help establish strong centralized policies that are both sound in themselves and rigidly adhered to throughout the Department of Defense (DoD). In any large organization, policies must be executed through discrete structures. In the large, complex enterprise of national defense, centers of management excellence dedicated to advancing DoD's overall goals and objectives. The Commission's recommendations, if fully implemented, will help create an environment In which each DoD component can achieve ever higher standards of performance by summoning forth the enthusiasm and dedication of every man and woman involved in accomplishing its mission. Excellence can flourish, I believe, only where individuals identify with a team, take personal pride in their work, concentrate their unique efforts, develop specialized know-how, and above all constantly explore new and better ways to get their job done. Freedom and incentives of just this sort, President Reagan has observed, unleash the drive and entrepreneurial genius that are the core of human progress.