Digital Government
Tax day: The price we pay for civilization
Blogger Steve Kelman reflects on the importance of taxes -- and the value of good government management.
Digital Government
Keep your contracting staff in the loop
Program managers do themselves a favor when they include contracting experts early in the process, writes Steve Kelman.
People
OPM’s latest workplace experiments
OPM’s Results-Only Work Environment is a good example of how to bring management innovation into government, writes blogger Steve Kelman.
Acquisition
Is GSA gunning for other GWACs?
Blogger Steve Kelman argues that the federal government is better off having GSA compete with other agencies for acquisition business.
People
GSA tries wiki approach to develop RFPs
The General Services Administration wants public commment on requests for proposals, but blogger Steve Kelman wonders whether the public take the agency up on it.
People
A practical way to spice things up for new contracting employees
Give high-school grads some of the routine work, so the specialists can engage their minds with bigger challenges.
Digital Government
KSAs and hiring reform in government
OPM's new leader wants to reform the hiring system so that greater numbers of qualified candidates can compete for jobs.
People
How to waste time and talent through acquisition training
Readers respond to blogger Steve Kelman's suggestion that the federal government take a hard look at the content of its acquisition training programs.
Acquisition
Note to DOD IG: "Assisted acquisition" does mean "provide help"
DOD IG guidance moves GSA's Office of Assisted Services in the wrong direction, subtracting rather than adding value for their government customers.
People
Why technology is not enough
A recent study found that organizations get the most out of technology when they also adopt new management practices, Steve Kelman writes.
Acquisition
Will contracting savings plans translate into budget cuts?
Blogger Steve Kelman believes that OMB should avoid inadvertently penalizing agencies that come up with aggressive plans for saving contracting dollars.
Acquisition
Are we wasting the talents of contracting staff? (Part 2)
Blogger Steve Kelman finds that not all government contracting hires feel as if their talent is being wasted.
People
Are we wasting the talents of our new government contracting hires?
Blogger Steve Kelman was discouraged to hear how one agency is failing to leverage the skills of contractor staff.
Acquisition
Government should take a cue from consumers
A startup called Groupon provides the federal government with a good model of how to leverage buying power, writes blogger Steve Kelman.
Acquisition
Agencies should not fear talking to contractors
Columnist Steve Kelman writes that communication between government and industry is key to saving money and and preventing misunderstandings in contract language.
Acquisition
Contract management: Glass half empty or half full?
Where GAO finds problems with DOD contract management, blogger Steve Kelman finds reason for hope.
People
TechStat: A new way of doing business in Washington?
There is a very tough balance to be sought in these "Stat" meetings between providing outside scrutiny to agency IT projects and the meetings' intended purpose as occasions for learning and improvement.
People
Crowdsourcing for social service
A social services-oriented program sponsored by Pepsi makes blogger Steve Kelman wonder about the potential role of crowdsourcing in government.
Digital Government
The dark side of crowdsourcing?
Crowds may have wisdom, but some crowdsourcing concepts could be turned to evil purposes, writes blogger Steve Kelman.
People