Reflections on Technology from Davenport

This post comes via the Gov 2.0 Watch blog, which is a project of our partners at the Davenport Institute. You can read the post below or find the original here. We think a lot about using technology to enhance democracy here at NCDD, and we wanted to share this post that reminds that technologyRead… Read more »

TSP Talk Weekly Wrap Up

We started the week coming off the jobs report that triggered a big rally the Friday before. The stock market digested those gains for a couple of days and by the open on Wednesday it looked like we may see a bit of a pullback. But then the Janet Yellen confirmation hearings started, and theRead… Read more »

Momentum on Procurement Reform

In following the conversations with over 500 members of the broader civic tech network at the 2013 Code for America Summit , I was struck by a shared commitment from the community: a commitment to speak candidly and honestly about the barriers we must address and the collaboration required to reduce those barriers. Many challengesRead… Read more »

Civic Studies Field Continues to Grow

This post comes via Dr. Peter Levine, a civics scholar, philosopher, and NCDD supporting member. Peter recently announced on his blog that he will be helping convene a “civics studies mini-conference” this January in New Orleans as part of the Southern Political Science Association meeting. Civic studies is an emerging discipline that holds a greatRead… Read more »

GAO hits the bull’s eye in identifying commercial best practices as the key to successful information technology investments.

Earlier this week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding “Leveraging Best Practices to Help Ensure Successful Major Acquisitions.” The testimony can be found here. The focus of the testimony was a presentation of nine common “critical success factors” that GAO identified in examining seven successful federalRead… Read more »

James Miller, Walter Johnson Unveil FCC Internet Speed Test Tool

The Federal Communications Commission has launched a speed test application for mobile broadband networks as part of its efforts to help consumers choose wireless providers. The app for Android smartphones works to evaluate the speed and latency of mobile broadband networks, store the information in cloud environments and provide users an overview of actual networkRead… Read more »

It’s Official! The Civic Font

I wrote in 2012 about a group of designers in Chattanooga, TN who were kickstarting a campaign to create the first ever typeface for a U.S. city. The good news announced yesterday in The Atlantic is that the font was successfully released on October 31, 2013. A proclamation signed by Mayor Andy Berke declares thatRead… Read more »

Announcing the new Penn State Democracy Medal

Starting this year, Penn State University’s Democracy Institute will be awarding a Democracy Medal for exceptional innovations that advance the design and practice of democracy. The medal comes with a $5,000 award and tremendous publicity for the recipient, who will accept the medal and give a speech in the Fall of 2014. The medal celebratesRead… Read more »

6 Ways IT Service Management Can Change Your Organization

Businesses are always evolving, and through their evolution and expansion technology becomes obsolete and organizations find themselves needing an upgrade. As a customer base grows the need for technology grows greater. Most organizations spend thousands of dollars attaining and upgrading to the most current technology, but still have many problems implementing their new technology toRead… Read more »