Weekly Round-up: September 07, 2012

Gadi Ben-Yehuda

This week is all about innovation.

• HHS Inovates. Health and Human Services is holding a vote to determine fo People’s Choice Award for 2012
• Civic Entrepreneurs. Samantha Smith of Forbes reports on Fuse Corp, “a non-profit devoted to recruiting and training batches of civic entrepreneurs” who will attempt to solve civic problems.
• Creating Culture. Those entrepreneurs benefit from a culture of innovation. Fast Company lists 10 ways to help create an open culture.
• Innovating on the Job. I am pleased and humbled to share that my role has changed, and I am now the Innovation and Social Media Director for the Center. That really means something to me, as I work for a rather innovative company.

Dan Chenok

• Federal CIO VanRoekel highlights need for innovation.
• New study finds contracts change from fixed price over time.
• Security a significant issue for mobility success, says ATF CIO and ACT EC Member Rick Holgate.
• OMB announces $4b in savings through management and technology improvements.

John Kamensky

• Savings Campaign. Federal News Radio reports that “Agencies have saved more than $4 billion during the first two quarters of fiscal 2012 as part of President Barack Obama’s efficiency initiative.” OMB acting director Jeff Zients wrote in his blog that this is half way towards their goal of $8 billion in savings by the end of FY 2013. These savings are targeted toward reducing administrative expenses by 20 percent in areas such as vehicle fleets, travel, cell phones, printing, and conferences.
• Presidential “Profiles in Management.” Government Executive magazine has published two in depth profiles of the management approaches of President Barack Obama: “Learning to Lead,” based on his leadership over the past four years — and of presidential candidate Mitt Romney: “All Business,” based on his business and state government experience. Both are interesting to read in terms of their contrasts in approach.

Michael Keegan

• Zients claims $4B savings through technology, management improvement Citing “innovative management techniques” and better use of technology as key reasons, Jeffrey Zients wrote that the agencies reduced their costs by more than $2 billion in the first quarter of 2012.
• Management successes paving the way for One-DHS Rafael Borras, the DHS undersecretary for management, has spent the last two plus years chipping away at silos built up over the last decade to change the culture of the department. Borras said while DHS is far from fully transformed, the progress is real and measurable.
• GSA picks DoD installations chief Robyn to head Public Buildings Service Dorothy Robyn, who for the last three years has overseen the Defense Department’s military facilities and buildings, has been named to head the General Services Administration’s embattled Public Buildings Service.
• Integrated health record tests DoD’s agile acquisition aspirations The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs both want to develop a single electronic medical record system that both agencies can use by 2017. But officials say getting there is going to require speedy development and agile acquisition mindset, a big change from the traditional DoD culture for developing big systems.

The Business of Government Radio Show: Governing to Win Series: Dr. Francis S. Collins

Federal News Radio 1500-AM
Mondays at 11 a.m., Wednesdays at 12 p.m.

The Business of Government Hour features a conversation about management with a government executive who is changing the way government does business. The executives discuss their careers and the management challenges facing their organizations.

Dr. Francis Collins oversees the work of the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world, spanning the spectrum from basic to clinical research.

Broadcast Schedule: The show airs Monday, September 10, at 11 a.m., and Wednesday, September 12, at noon, on Federal News Radio 1500AM WFED

If you can’t wait, though, you can listen to (or download) this week’s program and all our previous interviews at businessofgovernment.org and by searching our audio archives.