Nextgov/FCW - Authors - Chanin Knight

Meet the 2014 Bold Award Finalists—The Government’s Top Tech Problem Solvers

Chanin Knight and Camille Tuutti — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 17:00:00 -0400

Steve Jobs once said innovation is the thing that distinguishes a leader from a follower.

If that’s the case, then all the finalists for the 2014 Bold Awards—from top agency executives to rank-and-file project managers—are true leaders.

These 20 individuals and teams, selected by Nextgov’s editorial team from nearly 100 nominations, embody the next generation of problem solvers and innovators. Aided by the power of technology, they’ve not only overcome immediate challenges at their workplaces but also upended longstanding cultural obstacles that have thwarted would-be innovators in the past.

These individuals brought new technology into the halls of government to replace outmoded processes and used existing technology in new and novel ways. They’ve acted as evangelists for innovation at their agencies—enthusiastic, passionate and able to translate complex IT jargon into terms everyone can understand.

The initiatives spearheaded by our finalists grew from the desire to make the business of government more effective and more efficient—from increasing social media engagement and improving data collection to bolstering government transparency.

These nominees—many of them so-called “invisibles,” who worked diligently behind the scenes to improve government—will be honored for their accomplishments at Nextgov Prime, Sept. 8-9 in Washington. We hope you will join us in celebrating their successes.

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This Graphic Will Show You What Your Office Will Look Like in 10 Years

Chanin Knight and Susan Fourney — Fri, 02 May 2014 12:54:19 -0400

In 2013, the General Services Administration put the finishing touches on its next-gen headquarters renovation, designed to reduce the agency’s building expenses and carbon footprint while creating efficient work spaces that meet the growing need for mobility and flexibility on the job. The planners envision this modern paradigm as the wave of the future across government, in which employees plug in from home or on the road as much as they do in the office.

The office model is more compact and more nimble, providing work spaces only where needed and when needed. The open bullpen is all-inclusive—from agency chiefs to mid-managers to support staff—and the coveted corner office may become a quaint notion of the past. Employees share desks, but they also have the option of reserving private rooms for meetings, phone calls or quiet. And environmental touches like solar panels, rainwater cisterns and high-efficiency air systems conserve energy as well as money.

As telework, teleconferencing and everything short of teleporting changes the way agencies work, could this be your office of the future?

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Timeline: Bold Ideas Well Applied Can Change the World

Katherine McIntire Peters and Chanin Knight — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:38:54 -0400

What does the Interstate Highway System have in common with the Human Genome Project? More than one might think. They both were ambitious programs that changed the world. In the digital age, the network of roads funded by the Eisenhower administration may not seem like a world-changing endeavor. But by some calculations, it was the largest public works project since the Egyptian pyramids, and it provided the framework for America’s then-emerging superpower status. The DNA sequencing project promises to revolutionize medicine and our understanding of human development. What’s more, both programs were federally funded and conceived.

In this time of furloughs and fed-bashing, it’s easy to forget how powerful a good idea smartly implemented can be. A recent survey of federal employees found that fewer than 40 percent believe they work in a culture of innovation. That’s a shame, because government innovation and investment in promising technologies have fueled some of the nation’s most transformative initiatives.

We pulled together a few examples of how public investment of treasure -- and, in some cases, blood -- spurred great advancements. This is not an exhaustive list, of course, but it hints at the breadth and depth of the nation’s debt to the men and women who aren’t afraid to think boldly and act smartly to improve the world around them.

Kedar Pavgi contributed to this report.

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What do Smokey Bear, traveling feds and children have in common? Their own federal apps.

Joseph Marks and Chanin Knight — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:24:37 -0400

The government is in the midst of an all-out push to make information available to citizens anywhere at any time and to make customer service competitive with the private sector . To that end, federal agencies have launched more than 100 custom-built mobile applications and mobile-adaptive websites in recent years.

In October 2011, Nextgov asked three private sector app developers and experts to weigh in on a dozen government apps and tell us what worked and what didn’t. Their reviews pointed out a few gems, such as the Veterans Affairs Department’s PTSD Coach and the Social Security Administration’s Baby Name Playroom . They also spotted a few duds, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ ATF app , which was little more than a text-heavy website crammed into a 3.5-inch screen.

With the White House redoubling its efforts on mobile , we decided it was time to make these app reviews a regular feature.

Our experts look at three apps this month: The Forest Service’s Smokey Bear app, which offers tips on making a safe campfire, the General Services Administration’s Per Diem app for federal workers traveling in the continental United States and the FBI’s Child ID app, where parents can store information for quick access if their child is abducted.

Stay tuned for new federal app reviews each month.

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