Modernization
Could mobile technology have stopped state dinner security breach?
Some IT specialists say better communications among security forces could foil attempts to sneak into White House events, but others say nothing will fix human error.
Ideas
Open Government Directive?
Remember the open government directive - the guidance that President Obama on his first day in office <a href="http://www.eda.gov/PDF/Memo_PresidentObama_FOIA.pdf">memoed</a> his administration about. He said he wanted recommendations by May 21 for regulations -- to be issued by the Office of Management and Budget -- that would put the principles of transparency, collaboration and participation in government into practice.
Digital Government
Following Your Tweets
There's an interesting <a href="http://www.govloop.com/profiles/blogs/following-your-employees-on">conversation</a> going on at GovLoop about whether it's OK for an agency's official Twitter account to follow the personal Twitter accounts of its employees. Some private sector companies follow their own employees' accounts, which can help promote the idea of being more transparent and open. But it also could raise some concern for employee privacy as well as an agency's public affairs strategy.
Digital Government
Giving Some Thanks on Thanksgiving
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so I'm going to doff my grump hat and thank the folks who make this column possible, starting with some really fine military public affairs officers.
Ideas
If at First You Don't Succeed . . .
Maine has to have one of the longest running system-development sagas going. In 2001, the state awarded a contract to CNSI to build a Medicaid claims processing system. After numerous delays and cost overruns, Maine turned the system on in January 2005. The system immediately began <a href=http://www.cio.com/article/20133/Maine_s_Medicaid_Mistakes>misreading claims</a>, resulting in millions of dollars worth of medical bills that doctors and hospitals field to go unpaid.
Digital Government
Hot IT Skills for 2010
Dice.com <a href="http://career-resources.dice.com/articles/content/entry/hot_skills_for_2010">reports</a> on the top certified and non-certified skills that employers will be seeking in 2010. According to IT consulting firm Foote Partners, the top skills that will command the highest pay premiums in 2010 are:
Digital Government
Agencies use technology in effort to unravel Watergate mystery
Forensic specialists analyze meeting notes in hope of explanation for 18 1/2-minute gap in tapes.
Digital Government
Military Health to evaluate two electronic dental records systems
Agency will spend six months reviewing applications developed by a Northrop Grumman-SAIC team and Harris.
Digital Government
Census director focuses on putting IT to the test before the big count
In an interview with Nextgov, Robert Groves talks about testing the bureau's networks designed for the decennial census, his development philosophy and using the Internet in 2020.
Cybersecurity
Former cyber exec: Spread cybersecurity responsibilities
In an interview with Nextgov, former director of the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team Mischel Kwon also calls for less regulation and following basic patch processes to secure systems.
Ideas
Tracking Your Twitter Account
The Web and everything related to it seems to be 2.0 these days, but Google Analytics Evangelist Avinash Kaushik's 2.0 take on Web analytics deserves the version two status. Not only does he methodically outline a new approach to analyzing Web metrics, but he offers some advice on how to measure the success of social media tools.
Digital Government