Back in July of 2013 the president released his management agenda, which focused on three main goals: finding new ways to deliver government services more quickly and conveniently; cutting duplicative and unnecessary programs; and expanding the numbers and type of government data sets provided online. It was a powerful agenda, but now, almost a yearRead… Read more »
It’s a clear compliment to be chosen to take charge – but it can also be nerve-wracking to have that much responsibility laid on your shoulders. There are ropes to learn, responsibilities to juggle, and expectations are coming at you from those above and those below. You need to earn your team’s trust, earn yourRead… Read more »
In my previous post, I talked about the benefits of having a skunk works of federal developers. How can this team help with your Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) software choices? Your internal development team cannot (and should not!) build every piece of software you need. They should focus on unique, mission specific processes thatRead… Read more »
My last post explored the question: Is the government equipped to compete in scientific research? While we looked at both sides of the argument, perhaps the better answer is that things aren’t so black and white. Perhaps the answer lies in the shades of gray, that government is well-equipped for research in some areas andRead… Read more »
I must admit that a guilty pleasure of mine is the Food Network show Chopped. Hidden among the culinary battles for Chopped Champion are some of life’s greatest lessons on success. I love the twisted mystery baskets of ingredients, the seemingly impossible time limits and the lofty expectations of the judges (sound like life?). ButRead… Read more »
On GovLoop Insights’ DorobekINSIDER: “You have to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em and know when to walk away.” Kenny Roggers wasn’t just talking about love in his 1980 classic song “The Gambler” — he was also talking about poor performers. Insights from the Partnership for Public Service’s Tom Fox. YouRead… Read more »
“You have to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em and know when to walk away.” Kenny Roggers wasn’t just talking about love in his 1980 classic song “The Gambler” — he was also talking about poor performers. Poor performers can bring down an organization, cripple employee morale and thwart innovation. AndRead… Read more »
On the surface it makes perfect sense. Outsource your development efforts. When the development is done, the contract developers leave and you’re not paying for their time. Makes more efficient use of your IT dollars! Better! Faster! Cheaper! However, not having skilled developers available misses out on an essential skill set to make your organizationRead… Read more »
In case you missed it, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has brought a piece of Silicon Valley’s high-tech entrepreneurial spirit to Washington in the form of a new and exciting Innovation Lab. Since launching in March 2012, the Lab has been successfully utilized by employees from dozens of federal agencies ranging from NASARead… Read more »
There are days when it can be really difficult to jump start those creative juices and feel prepared to tackle some of our strategic initiatives at City Hall. As Chief Innovation Officer for Kansas City, Missouri, I have had to realistically manage my own expectations of myself – evidently it is impossible to be wildlyRead… Read more »