Acquisition
Confronting the culture of fear in government
Steve Kelman gives kudos to DHS' Soraya Correa for facing the FLASH cancellation head-on.
People
What to look for in leadership and organizational performance
Steve Kelman reports that better data is producing a mini-revolution in scholarship about public-sector management.
Digital Government
Don't believe the hype: Procurement reform is a red herring!
One govtech innovator argues that the fixes could create more problems than they resolve.
Digital Government
Is the performance of the procurement system improving?
Steve Kelman looks back on 20 years of attempted procurement reform.
People
Is agile the answer to government's IT skills deficit?
Steve Kelman argues that DevOps deliverables are easier to evaluate, especially when the evaluators lack technical expertise of their own.
Digital Government
Evidence-based government: It’s not rocket science
Steve Kelman points to some very straightforward examples of measuring the effectiveness of an intervention.
Digital Government
Dispatches from Riyadh
Steve Kelman reports from Saudi Arabia, where he finds fascinating tension as a highly conservative country pushes for modernization.
Modernization
Do we still need systems integrators?
David Eaves argues that any modern IT system should be designed from the outset to talk to other systems.
Digital Government
Elon Musk's next act -- it involves government again!
Steve Kelman urges more people to find inspiration in the large-scale challenges government faces.
Acquisition
What are the real reasons small firms won't sell to the government?
Steve Kelman goes outside the traditional government contractor community for insights into the true barriers to entry.
People
Putting yourself in others’ shoes can help you too!
Steve Kelman suggests that organizational behavior research can have practical (and powerful) applications for federal managers.
People
Hierarchy in organizations: when it helps, when it hurts
Steve Kelman suggests that managers must consider what types of work their teams are really doing.
People
The new Office of American Innovation -- let's give Trump credit
Steve Kelman sees several reasons to be optimistic about the administration's new initiative to spark innovation in government management.
People
The Trump administration has a management agenda!
Steve Kelman digs into the administration's budget blueprint and finds clear signs of continuity for improving government management.
Digital Government
When 'compliance' should be a dirty word
Steve Kelman makes the case that using the word "comply" can have unintended consequences.
Digital Government
Can IGs and agencies agree to a code of conduct?
Steve Kelman argues "The Art of the Deal" offers a possible path to more constructive oversight.
Digital Government
18F: The empire strikes back
Oversight has its place, Steve Kelman writes, but the IG reports focused on 18F almost seem hostile to innovation.
Acquisition
Updates from the procurement innovation front
Steve Kelman checks in on some of his favorite examples of shaking up the government status quo.
Acquisition
After the award: How to make contracts deliver
A recent roundtable discussion found strong consensus that agencies and industry must team up to improve communication, collaboration and trust.
Digital Government