People
Productivity and the placebo effect
Ongoing studies show that a positive mind-set can have a measurable impact on performance, which offers some tantalizing insights for federal managers, writes columnist Steve Kelman.
People
Research just proves the obvious? Not so fast.
Academic research is full of surprises, Steve Kelman maintains, even though many people believe it only shows what's already obvious.
People
Building better jobs for feds
A study from nearly 20 years ago could provide insight into improving the federal work environment, writes Steve Kelman.
Acquisition
Was the GSA scandal really scandalous?
Columnist Steve Kelman wonders whether agencies might be justified in spending money on lavish conferences.
Acquisition
Meeting Joe Jordan
The new OFPP administrator has "a Boy Scoutish enthusiasm for trying to improve things," Steve Kelman writes.
People
Herding the cats: How to lead a cross-organizational team
How can managers get members of a cross-functional to work well together and feel invested in the team effort? The question is not merely academic, writes columnist Steve Kelman.
People
Innovation: Are feds afraid of their own shadows?
Agency performance suffers when employees are too fearful to try new ways of doing things, writes Steve Kelman.
People
Tapping into feds' desire to serve
When it comes to motivating employees, studies show that the messenger matters as much as the message, writes Steve Kelman.
Digital Government
Free expression in China: Opportunities and limits
An English-language Chinese newspaper is surprisingly candid, Steve Kelman learns.
Acquisition
Should contractors keep the right to respond to past-performance reviews?
Steve Kelman considers a proposal to disallow contractor responses to past-performance reviews.
Modernization
PowerPoint and a new generation of visual learners
Steve Kelman learns a few things about the power of images.
People
Why contests are a smart procurement tool
Research shows that groundbreaking ideas are more likely to come from people working on the fringe, writes FCW columnist Steve Kelman.
People
The best approach to management: Tough love
In a recent study, columnist Steve Kelman found that the best performance comes from a mix of hard and soft management styles.
Digital Government
Message to Facebook: Knock off the changes.
Facebook's Timeline feature creates confusion, not clarity.
Acquisition
A new idea for encouraging vendors to help agencies save money
Steve Kelman proposes that agencies offer extra points to bidders who suggest money-saving ways to change draft solicitations.
Digital Government
4 ingredients of successful teams
Teams often succeed or fail because of decisions that are made before they even hold their first meeting.
People
How to prime feds for better performance
Columnist Steve Kelman says agencies should join the quick-experiment revolution that is spreading through the private sector.
People
The progress principle: How to keep employees on track
A new book's insights into productivity have important implications for supervisors, writes columnist Steve Kelman.
Acquisition
How agencies can cut contracting costs
As agencies tighten their belts, contracting is ripe for cost savings, writes columnist Steve Kelman.
People