Using Wikis in Government: A Guide for Public Managers

Submitted by on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 01:53

Public leaders face the challenge of finding ways to bridge silos in their organizations. In this report, Dr. Mergel examines one tool that can help them do this—Wikis. Many of us are familiar with Wikipedia, which relies on thousands of active contributors who share their knowledge freely on a dazzling breadth of topics, with an accuracy rate rivaling that of traditional encyclopedias.

Using Online Tools to Engage – and be Engaged by –The Public

Submitted by on Mon, 05/16/2011 - 10:56

Mr. Leighninger’s report begins to pull back the veil on how the various online engagement tactics and tools can be used, and when they work best.  

His report describes common scenarios where public managers may find themselves needing, or using, public input.  He describe a mix of ten different tactics managers may find useful for engaging the public online and highlights over 40 different technologies in use today to support those kinds of engagements.

GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 Explained

Submitted by on Tue, 05/03/2011 - 09:48

This update effort started several years ago through the efforts of Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) then evolved more recently with support from Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Mark Warner (D-VA).

The update is based on more than 15 years of experience – documented through numerous GAO reports that culminated in a 2004 overarching assessment.  This experience included both the evolution of agency practices as well as increased access to information and collaboration via the Internet.

Engaging a Multi-Generational Workforce: Practical Advice for Government Managers

Submitted by on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 16:43

They note that even with the recession, over half the workforce is unsatisfied with their jobs and that the workforce now spans four generations.  These challenges are compounded by rapid technology changes in the workplace.  When taken together, they create enormous challenges for managers in both the public and private sectors.

Medicaid Expansion Under Health Care Reform: Promising Approaches to Managing Care for People with Complex Medical Needs

Submitted by on Tue, 04/12/2011 - 13:43

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy and the IBM Center for The Business of Government are collaborating to offer a unique voice on the major implementation issues surrounding health care reform.

The Implementation Brief series is based on two key premises:

Case Studies in Merging the Administrations of Social Security Contribution and Taxation

Submitted by on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 13:45

Nothing is stable in social security and, thus, the social security structures and financing mechanisms are constantly evolving.Therefore, governments may need to adapt these structures and mechanisms to the new circumstances, especially those arising after the recent economic downturn. Still remains the question how we can move forward in social security with efficiency and effectiveness with regard to the financing of the social security schemes.

A Best Practices Guide to Information Security

Submitted by on Mon, 03/28/2011 - 13:52

Organizations take great pains to use technology to defend against outside attacks; they work hard to spot and stop the malicious insider who is willfully trying to do ill to systems. However, most organizations fall short in equipping their workers with best practices to make them part of the solution to information security.

Environmental Collaboration: Lessons Learned About Cross-Boundary Collaborations

Submitted by on Mon, 03/07/2011 - 10:05

While they find that many of the elements necessary for effective collaborative ventures are critical — such as a clear purpose, dedicated staff, and the willingness to be flexible — they conclude that a bilateral collaborative venture is often more effective when it has a formal legal structures in place that enhance its legitimacy in the eyes of various stakeholders. Informal collaborations are often useful precursors to more formal efforts. These informal

Modernizing Medicaid: Strategies for Managing Enrollment in Health Care Reform

Submitted by on Mon, 02/14/2011 - 10:08

The Brief is published at a time when states are grappling with how to reduce spending on Medicaid. In the face of significant budget shortfalls, some states are proposing to drop hundreds of thousands of low-income adults from Medicaid.

Managing Innovation Prizes in Government

Submitted by on Mon, 02/07/2011 - 11:25

The use of prizes and awards is a visible element of the Obama Administration’s efforts to promote innovation in government. For example, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has sponsored a competition among federal employees to find cost savings and the White House has created the “challenge.gov” website where federal agencies can pose problems in hopes of getting solutions from the public.  OMB issued guidance to encourage agencies to offer challenges and prizes, as well.  

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