"Leadership is a very important component of higher performing organizations. This book presents a breadth and depth of information about leading others and describes what leaders need to excel at and what up-and-coming leaders need to know as they prepare themselves for leadership positions. Taking a balanced approach to leadership allows correctional leaders to influence different people and diverse stakeholder groups in differing situations. Good leaders know when they need to manage rather than lead and how these two activities differ" (p. 71). Chapters cover: an introduction; focus on the leader; leadership of others ad beyond; leadership that is transforming; case study-collaboration shifts a dysfunctional culture; and case study-new leadership as a catalyst for change.

This guidebook "is the second book in the APEX Guidebook series and is designed to help correctional practitioners deepen their knowledge of the Public Safety Model domains. It offers practical suggestions for improving performance and creating positive change by sharing best-practice methods and current literature on higher performance in corrections" (p. ix). APEX itself provides strategies for achieving performance excellence in the Public Safety Model domains-operations (which includes safe and secure supervision and settings and process management), stakeholder focus, workforce focus, strategic planning, measurement/analysis/knowledge management, and results. Eight chapters follow an introduction to Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX): introduction; operations focus-safe and secure supervision and settings; operations focus-process management; stakeholder focus; workforce focus; strategic planning; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; and results.

"Culture, including beliefs, assumptions, values, norms, and practices in an organization, determines the success of an organization's performance and change efforts. This book helps illuminate the role culture plays in an organization that is striving for higher performance ... Knowledge of culture enables an organization to proceed along the path to successful change. The APEX Change Management Model provides a process and map for organizational change based in research and best practices; it engages the human component of the organization to ensure success" (p. 85). Eight chapters follow an introduction to Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX): introduction; organizational culture and change; introduction to change management; APEX Change Management Model; additional elements of successful change management; communications planning during change; change management principles and practices in action-Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); and changing culture during challenging times.