Posts By The IBM Center for The Business of Government

Strategies to Improve Integrated Service Delivery to People with Disabilities

In this report, the authors examine the experience of the United States and United Kingdom in developing effective strategies for providing integrated service delivery. The report examines what works and what doesn’t work, and provides a roadmap to improving services for individuals with disabilities. While more research is needed, the report identifies 12 strategies toRead… Read more »

Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Federal Performance Reporting: Lessons from the OMB Pilot Program

In 2006, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) authorized the Performance and Accountability Reporting (PAR) Pilot Program, which permitted executive branch agencies to use an alternative approach to reporting financial and performance information. Eleven departments and agencies volunteered to participate in the FY 2007 PAR Pilot Program. Three initiatives were held to assess andRead… Read more »

Launching a New Mission: Michael Griffin and NASA’s Return to the Moon

W. Henry Lambright writes an interesting report about Griffin and NASA. A summary of the report is that President George W. Bush told NASA to return to the moon and prepare for manned exploration of Mars. The man he put in charge, Michael Griffin, was a certified rocket scientist with a passion for manned spaceRead… Read more »

Transforming Information Technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs

Jonathan Walters’ report chronicles the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) efforts to realign and centralize its information technology activities. Describing it as an “ambitious, audacious and arduous crusade,” Walters makes it very clear that this is still very much a work in progress. There are significant hurdles ahead and certain significant adjustments will no doubtRead… Read more »

Moving Toward Outcome-Oriented Performance Measurement Systems

Public managers in communities across the country are under increasing pressure by the public to report on the outcomes and results of their programs. With both internal and external demands for information, public managers not only need to provide an accounting of resources expended and services provided, but also report on performance and outcomes. TheRead… Read more »

Transforming Information Technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs

Jonathan Walters’ report chronicles the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) efforts to realign and centralize its information technology activities. Describing it as an “ambitious, audacious and arduous crusade,” Walters makes it very clear that this is still very much a work in progress. There are significant hurdles ahead and certain significant adjustments will no doubtRead… Read more »

Transformation of DOD’s Business Systems

The Department of Defense launched an ambitious effort to transform its vast network of back office mission support systems in 2001. It has since invested large amounts of funding in the effort. What progress has the initiative achieved to date? What has been its impact? Should the new Administration continue the existing effort, terminate it,Read… Read more »

Strengthening Government’s Ability to Deal with the Financial Crisis

As the administration and Congress take actions to address the immediate financial crisis, determining how to place the government’s response on a stronger organizational footing is a key step to reducing the likelihood that the nation will experience a similar financial crisis in the future. In his report, Stanton points out the need to addressRead… Read more »

Six Practical Steps to Improve Contracting

Contracting issues will be on the front burner of the Obama administration, and the stakes are large. With the passage of the Stimulus Bill, having an effective federal contracting function will be critical to the success of the Bill. While many observers see the current federal contracting system as broken, the seminar participants identified aRead… Read more »

Federal News Radio Interviews Author David Van Slyke on Complex Contracting Challenges

This morning, Federal News Radio interviewed David Van Slyke about his report, “The Challenge of Contracting for Large Complex Projects: A Case Study of the Coast Guard’s Deepwater Program.” For more information and to hear the interview, visit this web page: http://www.businessofgovernment.org/publications/grant_reports/details/index.asp?gid=328