Weekly Round-up: January 31, 2014

Gadi Ben-Yehuda

Innovation Conversations

• Alex Howard tweeted a line from the #SOTU: "There are fewer & fewer technical restraints on what we can do. That forces us to ask questions about what we should do," which lead Jim Daly to ask "When There Are No Barriers to Technology, How Can the Government Innovate?" which in turn lead Justin Herman to respond "Innovation Means More, Better, Cost Effective Digital Training" 
• Codifying Innovation: Alex also wrote up a great a primer on the RFP-IT Act: what it does, why it was proposed, and what it means.
• Code for America published its Civic Tech forecast for 2014.

Dan Chenok

• What the Super Bowl can teach federal agencies about cloud computing and public safety.
• Putting cyber security into acquisitions -- DOD-GSA release recommendations.
• Should Performance Reviews Be Morphed?  

John Kamensky

• Agencies Expand Use of Social Media. Shefali Kapadia, Federal News Radio, writes that “agencies are increasingly expanding their use of social media. . . . More than 60 social media apps are now available to agencies, allowing them to select the best method to meet their missions. The General Services Administration, she notes, provides access to pre-approved apps, along with a cross-agency community of practice for social media mavens.
• OMB Calls for Changes to Proposed DATA Legislation.  Jason Miller, Federal News Radio, reports that OMB wants major changes to a bill that would require all agencies to post spending information, similar to requirements under the Recovery Act.  The bill has already passed the House and is pending in the Senate.  The emphasis on open data vs. standardized data, left some supporters of the legislation confounded.
• GAO Praises Accountability Under Recovery Act.  Charles Clark, Government Executive, writes that a new GAO report lauds the increased accountability that occurred under the provisions of the Recovery Act, as implemented by agency inspectors general.
• Customer Satisfaction with Federal Agencies Drops Again.  Sean Reilly, Federal Times, writes that “Frustration with balky websites helped drive down public satisfaction with federal agencies’ services last year, leaving the government trailing even the airline industry and subscription TV in user esteem, newly released survey findings indicate.”  
• Improving Employee Satisfaction, Matters!  Interestingly, research has shown that low customer satisfaction is linked to low employee satisfaction. And Eric Katz at Government Executive reports that the Office of Personnel Management is offering its services to help agencies improve their employee satisfaction ratings!  

The Business of Government Radio Show: VADM Mark D. Harnitchek

The Business of Government Hour features a conversation about management with a government executive who is changing the way government.

What are the Defense Logistics Agency’s strategic priorities? How is DLA working to reduce costs while improving support to the warfighter? What about DLA’s role in providing humanitarian assistance & disaster relief support? Join host Michael Keegan as he explores these questions and so much more with our VADM Mark D. Harnitchek, Director of the Defense Logistics Agency.

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