TECHNOLOGY AND THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT

This four-part series on preparing for the presidential transition is the result of surveys and interviews conducted by Alan Balutis, a former federal executive with more than 30 years of government experience. Balutis, who served as the Commerce Department's first chief information officer, is now director of the Internet business solutions group at Cisco Systems Inc. He also guided three presidential transitions and seven secretarial transitions while at Commerce.

In addition to his insights, Balutis has culled advice during the last two presidential transitions from political appointees and government executives, including John Marshall, a former chief information officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development; and Steve Dewhurst, former director of budget and program analysis at the Agriculture Department.

Part I: Do's And Don'tsPart II: Mars and VenusPart III: Two Schools of ThoughtPart IV: What Appointees Want