In our last post, we introduced two of the five Cs for effective change, credibility and communication. Today, we will discuss the remaining three C's. Comprehensiveness

We’ve all heard it: Change is hard. I’m too set in my ways to change now. Can’t we just go back to the old way of getting our work done? The truth is—yes, change can be hard. It is widely reported that more than 80% of projects fail to accomplish their intended goals, mainly because of change “issues.” But change is not bad—in fact, when changing for the right reasons, change is good. Often, change is what is absolutely required for organizations to thrive, stay competitive, cut costs, and even survive. And while change may be hard, it is by no means impossible.

“Synergy” is thought by many to be merely a buzz word reserved for cantankerous discussions on business news radio, but with little literal meaning. When applied in an appropriate context, however, “synergy” can have both significant meaning and significant value for organizations in the public and private sectors alike.

NOTE: Today I've invited a colleague, John Bordeaux, to be a guest blogger.  Hope you enjoy his insights as much as I do!

  Periodically the IBM Center staff steps back and reflects on the insights provided by its authors of more than 300 research reports and by some 300 senior government executives interviewed over the past 13 years.  Through our research and interviews, we identified several broad societal trends that we believe are changing the game for successful leadership at all levels of government.

That insight led to the creation of both Hammer Awards and Reinvention Labs as ways to both convey reinvention principles and engage people in their day-to-day workplace. 

Frank B. Strickland is a Senior Fellow Emeritus with the IBM Center for The Business of Government.

The U.S. healthcare system has a history of innovation marked by the ability to translate basic research into new clinical and therapeutic approaches that sustain human life and health. Such success brings with it significant challenges.

Our panel of guests will provide an overview of RFID technology and its use across government, background on the Department of Defense's business transformation effort, and an insider's view on the DoD implementation of RFID.

Mr. David M. Wennergren serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Information Management and Technology / Deputy Chief Information Officer, providing top-level advocacy in creating a unified information management and technology vision for the Department and ensuring the delivery of the capabilities required to achieve the Department's transformation to net centric operations. In addition to his duties as Deputy CIO, Mr. Wennergren is the Vice Chair of the U.S. Government's Federal CIO Council.