Do-Gooders and Good Government

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:42

This election cycle saw record-shattering amounts of campaign spending, according to media reports.  Some, such as California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, spent their personal fortunes in their run for public office.  But there are others who are investing their personal fortunes in hopes that government can be better run, no matter who the elected officials might be.

Weekly Round-up: November 19, 2010

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:41

Gadi Ben-Yehuda

 

Re-Thinking the CFO Act

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:40

I originally had my doubts about the statutory provision in the stimulus bill that created something called the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board.  I was concerned that it was going to be a huge “gotcha” machine.  But it looks like its chairman, Earl Devaney, has created the foundation for modernizing the CFO Act of 1990 in the way he created a website tracking Recovery Act spending, Recovery.gov.

Buying IT: Shorter is Better, But With the Right Checks

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:38

As previously blogged in this space, one of the most prominent of these studies came from the TechAmerica Foundation, entitled “Government Technology Opportunity in the 21st Century.”  A key commission recommendation is to expand the use of rapid, smaller steps to increase the agility in acquisition and program execution.  This helps make IT results earlier and more efficient.  It also helps identify and manage risk throughout the lifecycle of an IT project.  This can help make IT more effective.

Weekly Round-up: November 12, 2010

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:37

Gadi Ben-Yehuda

Improving Customer Service

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:36

In the 1990s, the Clinton-Gore Reinventing Government effort thought the answer was “yes.”  President Clinton issued a customer service executive order in 1993 followed up in 1995 with a memo to institutionalize the initiative.

Weekly Round-up: November 5, 2010

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:34

Gadi Ben-Yehuda

 

Is Open Gov 1950 Stymieing Open Gov 2010?

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:33

The Federal Records Act of 1950 creates a framework to manage agency records.  It puts the National Archives and Records Administration in charge of oversight of the system and NARA determines the historical value of federal records and operates Federal Records Centers around the country.

Back to the Future – With Stronger Results

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:29

Cloud computing, social networks, identity … the promise of new technologies to help Federal agencies reach their goals is stronger than ever.  At the same time, agencies and contractors who want innovation to bring change are often stymied by lengthy, complex government processes, including those for hiring or training good IT Program Managers, requesting funds though the Federal Budget (a 2-year cycle), and doing an acquisition once the funds are awarded.  Add to this an environment where government and industry see more reasons not to talk to reach other about risks and rewards than they

Weekly Round-up: October 29, 2010

Submitted by on Thu, 12/21/2017 - 16:27

Gadi Ben-Yehuda

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