Acquisition

Debacle or triumph: The deciding factors

Steve Kelman looks at four fundamental factors that can determine whether a large-scale IT project fails or flourishes.

Digital Government

Don't call it derivative!

Steve Kelman contemplates a new Shanghai restaurant that serves "American-style" Chinese food.

Digital Government

The latest in Chinese IT

Steve Kelman reports that Chinese firms are advancing beyond knockoffs to produce real innovations.

Digital Government

A somewhat revealing rubber stamp

Steve Kelman suggests that interesting signals can be gleaned from China's "two session" proceedings.

Acquisition

What McCaskill is missing about past performance data

A punishment-only approach is bad psychology and bad management, even if it may be good politics.

People

'Evidence-based government' and the FY 2015 budget

Steve Kelman contends the best part of the president's budget may be its efforts to measure and reward programs that work.

Digital Government

This week in online disintermediation: Charities

Steve Kelman looks at the latest example of tradeoffs inherent in internet innovation.

Digital Government

Why Hong Kong is worth watching

Steve Kelman reports on the latest troubles in Hong Kong, and the larger concerns they could signal.

People

ABBA, taxes and unintended consequences

Steve Kelman muses on why the Swedish singers dressed so badly -- and what it means for agency rulemakers.

People

New Zealand civil service: A land without turkey farms

Steve Kelman discovers that the Kiwis' public sector does not even have terms for "turkey farm" or "retired in place."

Digital Government

Lessons from the French invasion of Silicon Valley

As President Hollande visits French techies in California, Steve Kelman argues that both France and the U.S. should look at why those entrepreneurs are there.

Digital Government

Greetings from New Zealand

Steve Kelman, FCW's traveling professor, reports from a land without airport security.

Acquisition

Business grads, vets and workforce diversity: Who should be on your team?

Steve Kelman reports on acquisition experts' recent discussions about agency approaches to hiring contracting staff.

People

Listening to some of the smartest government procurement people around

Steve Kelman reports on ideas being discussed by the Board of Advisors for the Veterans Administration Acquisition Academy Board of Advisors.

Acquisition

Procurement contests get their due

As Challenge.gov is recognized by the Ford Foundation and Harvard's Kennedy School, Steve Kelman explains why contests are a big deal.

Digital Government

What makes Chinese students optimistic (and pessimistic) about the future of China?

Steve Kelman details what's really on his students' minds.

People

Corruption and bureaucratic rigidity

Steve Kelman contends that federal management systems are far more rule-bound than the cases of corruption warrant.

Acquisition

Infrastructure in shambles? Contracting to the rescue?

Steve Kelman see opportunity in the United States' outdated systems.

People

Political leaders take on ideology and special interests -- in Mexico

Steve Kelman laments the lack of action north of the border.

Modernization

More stuff that's not around any more

Steve Kelman muses on everything from IT acquisition to subway tokens.