People

Letter: Some managers resist telework

[Management] at top levels say they are for it, however, they deny it at almost every opportunity except at the highest levels -- GS-11 and above -- because the rules say it [requires] their approval.

People

DISA's Croom to retire

Lt. Gen. Charles Croom, who sought to reinvent the agency’s procurement strategy, will leave a legacy of change.

People

Letter: FISMA standards lack clarity, waste time

FISMA is one of the biggest boondoggles I've seen in a long time — and a waste of time, money and effort.

People

Letter: Telework programs need leaders with vision

Many are put in positions because they were next in line and/or with little or no management and leadership experience/education.

Digital Government

House panel to explore problems with 2010 Census

Role of handheld devices to be examined.

People

FCW Insider: Bill Gates says you ain't seen nothing yet

None

Digital Government

GAO: Common desktop configuration holds promise for better security

Agencies said to be slow in adopting measures to improve security.

People

OMB seeks to improve value of internal controls reporting

The Office of Management and Budget will hold forums to figure out how to make controls for financial reporting more valuable to agencies.

Digital Government

Feds losing war on information security, senators told

Cyberattacks, backed by large criminal enterprises and enemy states, have increased in number and intensity. "The bad guys are winning."

Digital Government

IRS improves tax processing capabilities

Funding for business system modernization still poses a challenge for long-term success, IRS official says.

Cybersecurity

Cyberexercise shows need for better training to avoid network failures

During Cyber Storm II, the largest cyberexercise ever organized, backup systems worked but personnel need more training, a DHS official says.

Ideas

FDA and Rethinking Medical Device Approvals

None

Ideas

Clarke II: Cyber-Offensives Not Good Idea

None

Ideas

Clarke I: Less Privacy with Bush Protection Plan

None

People

Info-sharing czar touts U.S. progress

But Thomas McNamara says cultural and administrative challenges still impede getting government to better share homeland security, law enforcement and intelligence data.

Digital Government

Letter: Collaboration in architecture programs helps to focus on outcomes

It is good to see the focus on execution. Many architecture programs have focused on the mechanics of EA and not on the outcomes.

People

Feds urge the next president to communicate

Good communication between Cabinet members and career civilian feds is crucial, members of a panel say.

People

Letter: Performance monitoring is critical for efficient government teleworking programs

In the private sector, if employees don't produce, they are canned. If the workforce doesn't produce, management gets canned or the company goes under. With feds there is no such accountability.

Digital Government

Letter: Engage managers, big vendors as much as CXOs in architecture programs

The last thing you need are Peter-Principled techies driving the train. It's all about the mission, the business, and processes. Ultimately, it's about data requirements and standardization.