Acquisition

The next big thing in IT procurement

Steve Kelman talks to the agencies that have embraced tech demos in their acquisition efforts -- and urges others in government to give it a try.

People

How to work with a bad listener

Steve Kelman shares some exceedingly practical advice for the workplace.

Digital Government

How a Taiwanese government innovation could solve a peculiarly American problem

An anonymous government official solved a dispute of historical memory that threatened to tear the social fabric of a society just as it embraced democracy.

People

Walking toward change

A father-daughter story about cancer recovery and organizational improvement.

Acquisition

Meet the new face of government IT contractors (part 2)

Steve Kelman connects with another FLASH winner to discuss different ways of delivering IT.

Acquisition

Meet the new face of federal IT contractors

Steve Kelman hopes the vendors who won DHS' now-cancelled agile services contract are not just a flash in the pan.

Digital Government

A good-news story about cost control

The cost performance of DOD's weapons systems has been improving recently, and it hasn't been by accident.

Digital Government

SpaceX on steroids: Disruptive innovation comes to spy satellites over North Korea

Steve Kelman spotlights another example of an upstart firm that should be encouraged to work with government.

Acquisition

Could 'microconsulting' disrupt government contracting?

Steve Kelman suggests that short engagements priced under the micropurchase threshold could be just the sort of disruptive innovation agencies need.

People

A Fourth of July shout-out to civil servants

Steve Kelman shares a personal exchange that argues against the lazy bureaucrats stereotype.

Acquisition

Confronting the culture of fear in government

Steve Kelman gives kudos to DHS' Soraya Correa for facing the FLASH cancellation head-on.

People

What to look for in leadership and organizational performance

Steve Kelman reports that better data is producing a mini-revolution in scholarship about public-sector management.

People

Is agile the answer to government's IT skills deficit?

Steve Kelman argues that DevOps deliverables are easier to evaluate, especially when the evaluators lack technical expertise of their own.

Digital Government

Evidence-based government: It’s not rocket science

Steve Kelman points to some very straightforward examples of measuring the effectiveness of an intervention.

Digital Government

Dispatches from Riyadh

Steve Kelman reports from Saudi Arabia, where he finds fascinating tension as a highly conservative country pushes for modernization.

Digital Government

Elon Musk's next act -- it involves government again!

Steve Kelman urges more people to find inspiration in the large-scale challenges government faces.

Acquisition

What are the real reasons small firms won't sell to the government?

Steve Kelman goes outside the traditional government contractor community for insights into the true barriers to entry.

People

Putting yourself in others’ shoes can help you too!

Steve Kelman suggests that organizational behavior research can have practical (and powerful) applications for federal managers.

People

Hierarchy in organizations: when it helps, when it hurts

Steve Kelman suggests that managers must consider what types of work their teams are really doing.