The commission worked against a backdrop of rising concern about the need for reform and renewal of goverment and the quality of its leadership and workforce.Those concern were sharpened by 9/11 and the recognition that our nation faced major challenges to our collective security.However the problems were evident long before that particular event.Those who had responsibility for carrying out the work of goverment came to recognize the need for major change in the way public servant are recruited,rewarded,resourced,managed.