Communications

That Local GDS conversation again…

Just about 2 years ago I wrote this post on the GDS blog titled “Does local government need a local government digital service” the answer I gave then as I would give now is “YES” but just like then I outlined the challenges in actually making that a reality and instead focused on some areasRead… Read more »

How to get a smart, lean gov – Part Two

Duplication and overlap is rampant in government. With budgets dwindling down more than ever, agencies are looking to cut costs. But collaborating across disciplines is difficult. That’s where the authors of Smart Lean Government come in. They have developed a novel plan for how to reduce billions of dollars in overlapping information technology services governmentwide:Read… Read more »

Phone Etiquette in the Digital Era: 3 Reasons to Think before You Dial

Summary: In the Digital Era, new definitions of acceptable and unacceptable behavior have to address not only new ways of communicating, but traditional forms as well. This post offers three reasons why unsolicited, unscheduled phone calls are a generally a poor practice and reinforces the idea that we must constantly think about the best waysRead… Read more »

How to get a smart, lean gov – Part One

“Government is at a crossroad as it attempts to maintain basic citizen and customer services in an increasingly austere environment of “doing more with less”. The Smart Lean Government (SLG) Practical Guide has been developed to guide change agents as they shape and implement 21st century solutions. It highlights what needs to be done toRead… Read more »

Maximizing Social Media: #3 New Year’s Resolution for Uncle Sam

Where’s all the love between social media and gov? If this relationship were a romance Uncle Sam would still be stuck on the first date. While many government agencies made much needed progress in leveraging social media more effectively in 2013, there’s still a lot of work ahead – especially for small and mid-sized agencies.Read… Read more »

Sad news to share from AmericaSpeaks

AmericaSpeaks’ executive director, Steve Brigham, added a heartbreaking announcement to the organization’s website this afternoon. AMERICASPEAKS – IN HONOR OF OUR 19 YEAR LEGACY AmericaSpeaks has an unparalleled record of organizing more than 100 major citizen deliberations in all 50 states. Because of this remarkable history that we’ve had, it makes me very sad toRead… Read more »

Gov Should Resolve to Expand Telework ASAP in New Year

Let’s face it, the Telework Enhancement Act needs to be enhanced. Beefing up the three year-old law is necessary for telework to flourish at all agencies across government. In short, remote work should be standard operating procedure by now for feds deemed eligible by their agencies. That’s why Uncle Sam’s #2 New Year’s resolution shouldRead… Read more »

Fed Pay Freeze Thaws But Challenges Remain in Fight for Fairness

Here’s some good news for the federal family to start the New Year: at long last, the 3-year pay freeze has started to thaw! For the first time in over 36 months – or more than 1,000 days — hard-working and loyal federal employees will receive a scant 1% pay raise in Fiscal Year 2014.Read… Read more »

Top 3 New Year’s Resolutions for Uncle Sam: #1 Fostering Diversity Gov-wide

Every New Year brings with it new challenges, goals, expectations and high hopes. This is important not only in our private lives but also in our work lives – especially as the two continue to mesh in the fast evolving 21st century workplace. With this in mind, my Top 3 recommended New Year’s resolutions forRead… Read more »