Digital Government

Tel Aviv dispatch

Steve Kelman takes a break from acquisition and IT to report on his latest travels.

Acquisition

Procurement jujitsu at HHS

Steve Kelman applauds the IDEA Lab experiments -- and explains what it will take to make real changes stick.

People

Collaborating across organizations -- practice makes perfect

Recent research supports what economists have long argued: Sustained collaboration adds real value, but you have to work at it!

Digital Government

Oracle, the CIA and government's role in picking winners

The database giant was effectively launched via agency contracts. That's not a bad thing, Steve Kelman notes, but it begs the question of when government should go beyond basic research and standard procurement.

Digital Government

How social media is changing government management (again)

Steve Kelman finds inspiration in the role Twitter played during India's recent floods.

People

Government tech lessons from the Far East

Steve Kelman notes that Asia may be emerging as a center for government service delivery innovation.

People

A better path to performance management

Steve Kelman shows how tests and metrics can be used to really improve, rather than simply reward and punish.

Digital Government

LinkedIn self-censoring "sensitive" posts about China

Steve Kelman takes issue with western firms' acquiescence to Chinese "prohibitions."

People

The miracle of social trust

You can't believe everything you read, but Steve Kelman argues that good government and a culture of credibility are deeply intertwined.

People

Digital Service and agency IT: Advice for Mikey

Steve Kelman has some suggestions to help the administration's latest IT outsider succeed.

People

The REAL regulatory challenge of agile development

Steve Kelman argues that TechFAR's problem with agile is at the task order level, not the contract level.

People

Agile in government is alive (and well?)

Steve Kelman offers a non-techie's take on agile in agency IT.

Acquisition

Beware: Taxpayer rip-off hidden in Defense authorization bill

Steve Kelman spotlights a provision that could make smart procurement even harder.

Cybersecurity

How to get good media stories about government

Steve Kelman explains what agencies can learn from a TSA contest's coverage on the NBC Nightly News.

People

What 'Moneyball for Government' really means

Steve Kelman argues that there are two distinct flavors of this data-driven assessment -- and that their advocates don't talk nearly as much as they should.

Acquisition

What needs to be fixed in the FAR?

Steve Kelman spotlights two areas where real obstacles to effective IT contracting may exist -- and suggests solutions for each.

Acquisition

Government contests come of age

Steve Kelman looks at the amazing growth of agency "challenges" over the past decade, and the valuable lessons gleaned in a recent study.

Digital Government

Thoughts coming off the 4th of July

Steve Kelman reflects on global reaction to the United States' fundamental idea.

People

Hate 'the' VA, love 'my' VA

The perception gap between the big bad VA and many veterans' personal experiences reflects a broader trend in judging institutions vs. individuals.