Cybersecurity

Chief information security officers answer 4 burning questions

6 government chief information security officers have a round-table discussion about the most dangerous new cybersecurity threats and best strategies for addressing those risks.

People

Putting Web sites to the test

Users with disabilities often must find ways around accessibility problems on federal sites to get the information they need.

Acquisition

Contractor database hit from both sides

Did the federal acquisition councils go too far or not far enough in designing a new database for contractors’ past performance and legal compliance? That depends on whom you ask.

Modernization

Gov 2.0: Transparency without accessibility?

Despite progress, advocates say some high-profile federal Web sites still fail to meet the needs of people with disabilities.

Cybersecurity

Is it time for a national data breach notification law?

Lawmakers are again considering legislation that would create federal requirements for notifying people when their personal data is compromised.

Cybersecurity

CISOs assess the assessors

Government chief information security officers discuss the process and effectiveness of security compliance measures.

People

6 tips for generating better ideas

Two experts offer suggestions for avoiding a common pitfall that often leads to failed programs.

People

How to make government green

Federal employees and the public recently offered the White House more than 5,000 ideas for making the government more environmentally friendly.

Acquisition

Acquisition workforce has OFPP nominee's attention

Federal spending has increased by 163 percent since fiscal 2000, while the number of contracting officers hasn’t kept pace.

People

New rule targets award fees

A new rule could discourage contractors from competing for award-fee contracts by raising their level of risk, experts say.

People

DOD widens access to collaboration program

According to the new policy, government employees with e-mail addresses sponsored by CAC holders may take advantage of Defense Connect Online tools.

People

Customer service tips from developing countries

Other countries appear less constrained when developing new ideas for getting feedback, writes columnist Steve Kelman.

People

Performance pay: We know it works

NGA, among others, has demonstrated that pay for performance works in government, writes consultant Howard Risher.

Acquisition

Gordon reiterates Obama's push for transparency

The clock is ticking while the Senate considers Daniel Gordon, President Barack Obama's nominee to be administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. While Obama took several months to choose Gordon and the confirmation process is still ongoing, the administration has been dealing with a range of acquisition challenges and reform efforts.

Acquisition

A new way to assess contractors

The Obama administration is giving agencies a new, standardized way to assess contractors’ work on award-fee or cost-reimbursement contracts.

Digital Government

Army Afghanistan Tele-Shrinks

The Army has added about 2,700 behavioral health specialists to treat combat stress during the past two years, with just under 300 deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Ideas

A Cold '11 Budget, But Warmth for IT

The Office of Management and Budget has <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091113_3188.php?oref=topnews">asked</a> civilian agencies to ready themselves for fiscal 2011 budgets to be frozen at fiscal 2010 levels or, even worse, to be cut by 5 percent because the Obama administration is facing record deficits, which could become a drag on Democrats in elections next year.

Digital Government

Profile of a Virtual Collaborator

Guided Insights has some <a href="http://www.guidedinsights.com/newsletter_detail.asp?PageID=9351">useful advice</a> on the characteristics that make for a successful virtual collaborator, and those that may cause problems for some remote workers. Virtual collaborators, for example, tend to be social butterflies in the office; have excellent organizational, time-management, listening and communication skills; show a willingness to use a variety of tech tools with ease; and have the ability to move ahead without a lot of direction or guidance, the article states.

Ideas

Social Media Rx for Drug Safety

An industry group representing pharmaceutical companies is proposing that the Food and Drug Administration require a FDA-certified emblem - akin to a Good Housekeeping seal - on Web content that contains medication information.

Cybersecurity

Is a legislative fix in FISMA's future?

Agencies can improve cybersecurity without an overhaul of the Federal Information Security Management Act by using continuous and targeted monitoring of systems, some experts say.