Author Archive

Steve Kelman

Kelman is professor of public management at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and former administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. Connect with him on Twitter: @kelmansteve
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VA acquisitions asks vendors to show their work

COMMENTARY: The principle of "do, don't say" could be catching hold at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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A bittersweet birthday party for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy

Steve Kelman worries that the Biden administration is steering federal buyers away from best-value goals.

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An innovator at DHS

Steve Kelman spotlights digital transformation expert Scott Simpson of the Procurement Innovation Lab at the Department of Homeland Security

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Checking in on digital government in China

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman writes that an online system for registering complaints and comments about government services has its roots in China's imperial past.

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Touching base with some young contracting officers

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman connects with up-and-coming federal procurement officials.

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Getting better deals for the government

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman explains that common sense has often had a tough time getting accepted in debates about procurement policy.

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Driving innovation from the middle

COMMENTARY | NASA's Jennifer Elkins is an example of how senior civil servants can affect change in large organizations.

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Remembering reinventing government 30 years later

Commentary | Steve Kelman remembers how Al Gore's Reinventing Government effort helped change federal procurement.

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Keep the focus in procurement on best value products and services for the government

Commentary | Steve Kelman argues that the current cornerstone of Part 1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation is the right one for taxpayers and agencies.

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From Shanghai to a Senate-confirmed government post

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman presents the story of another fed who’s been around for years since leaving the Kennedy School.

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Great job, US Embassy in Beijing

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman cheers an Independence Day message that touted American-style freedom to a Chinese language audience.

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We like to think we are best at digital, but maybe not

COMMENTARY: Steve Kelman thinks the United States could learn a few things about technology-enhanced infrastructure from Europe and China.

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The long-time civil servant on the front lines of the default battle

Dave Lebryk is not widely known to the public but the Treasury official occupies a critical spot when it comes to measuring the daily cash position of the federal government.

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From Harvard to Ukraine

Steve Kelman catches up with a former student whose work has taken him to the front lines of U.S. efforts to curb nuclear proliferation.

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Turning a page

Steve Kelman reflects on his impending retirement.

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Is the Biden administration's management agenda getting back on track?

On the federal contracting front, reforms seem to be working better in practice than in theory.

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Why formal government communications work better than informal ones

A study looks at how expectations of government style influence how citizens respond to messaging.

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Okay boomers—listen up!

Steve Kelman remembers the savage beats of the great Tom Lehrer.

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Dissenting from our toxic political culture

Steve Kelman says it's important in this highly partisan era to find points of disagreement with one's own party.

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Remembering Professor Carter

Steve Kelman reflects on the former defense secretary's life in government and academia.