About the Center for The Business of Government: Connecting Research to Practice

Our Mission and What We Offer

Center VideoThe IBM Center for The Business of Government connects research to practice, applying scholarship to real world issues and decisions for government. The Center stimulates research and facilitates discussion of new approaches to improving the effectiveness of government at the federal, state, local, and international levels. Watch our new video!

The Center’s publications focus on major management issues facing governments today, including the use of technology and social media, financial management, human capital, performance and results, risk management, innovation, collaboration, and transformation. Our intent is to spark creativity in addressing pressing public sector challenges—crafting new ways of improving government by identifying trends, ideas, and best practices in public management that can help government leaders respond more effectively to their mission and management priorities.

Since its creation in 1998, the Center has awarded research stipends to public management researchers in the academic and non-profit communities that have resulted in nearly 425 reports - all of which are available on the Center’s website.

 

Research Reports

The Center has commissioned over 400 reports that focus on major issues facing all governments today. Topics include acquisition, collaboration, transparency, healthcare, performance, innovation, leadership, risk, security, and technology.

 

Interviews: The Business of Government Hour

The Business of Government Hour, hosted by Michael J. Keegan, features a conversation with government executives and thought leaders who are changing the way government does business. The show explores topics such as leadership, management, technology, innovation, public service, as well as the mission of government in the 21st century. Over 600 government executives have been interviewed about their careers, agency accomplishments and management, and the future of government in the 21st century. 

Past guests include Deputy Secretaries, Under Secretaries, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Information Officers, Chief Operating Officers, and Commissioners from a range of federal agencies as well as state and local government executives. Tune in on Federal News Radio WFED 1500AM weekdays Monday at 11 a.m., Friday at 1 p.m., and Wednesdays at noon as available. Or, you can download interviews and read the program transcripts on our site.

 

The Business of Government Magazine

Published once a year, the Business of Government magazine offers leadership profiles and fresh perspectives on government today.

 

Our Blog

The Business of Government – A range of voices from the Center, academe, and IBM business practitioners examine issues facing public managers as they work to accomplish their missions. The blog looks at the current administration priorities and challenges of performance and collaboration in the workplace.

 

Books

Our books explore new approaches to improving the effectiveness of government at the federal, state, and local levels. They provide cutting-edge knowledge to government leaders, academics, and students about the management of government in the 21st century.

 

Research Stipends

The aim of the IBM Center is to tap into the best minds in academe and the nonprofit sector who can use rigorous public management research and analysis to produce reports with practical advice and insight for public sector executives and managers to improve the effectiveness of government. We are looking for very practical findings and recommendations - not just theory or concepts - in order to assist executives and managers to more effectively respond to mission and management challenges. Our next research announcement proposal submission date is February 2, 2026.

 

 

Visiting Fellows

The IBM Center occasionally hosts Fellows from other organizations to enhance our ability to help government in emerging areas.  Meet our current fellows:

  • Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene are Visiting Fellows (State and Local Government), Senior Advisors and Columnists for Route Fifty, Special Project Consultants at the Volcker Alliance, Senior advisors at the Government Finance Research Center at the University of Illinois in Chicago, advisors at the National Association of Personnel Executives, Columnists for IPMA-HR, and Fellows at the National Academy of Public Administration.  Barrett and Greene are previous authors of the Center writing a blog series on the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the report, “Off to a Running State Capital Start:  A Transition Guide for New Governors and Their Teams.” Barrett and Greene will write about state and local government issues of interest including best practices in the delivery of government services, budget challenges, workforce, civic engagement, and performance management.  Read more about Barrett and Greene.
  • G. Edward "Ed" DeSeve is an Executive Fellow (Agile Government) and an Executive in Residence at the Brookings Institution.  Ed was a Special Advisor to the President for the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  His long career in government also included Controller and Deputy Director for Management of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, as well as the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ed will lead work on infusing agile thinking throughout government agencies, drawing on lessons from agile software development but expanding the scope of these lessons across other key government functions and mission areas.  Ed will collaborate with the National Academy of Public Administration and other key stakeholder groups to build a broad a coalition that can leverage agile principles to drive government improvement.  Read more about Ed.
  • Angela Evans is a Visiting Fellow with The IBM Center for The Business of Government.  She will work with our Center and the National Academy of Public Administration in supporting the Agile Government Center, particularly in working with government and academic leaders and experts on initiatives to strengthen education, research, and practice that informs future directions for agile government.  Evans’ work as a Visiting Fellow will focus on research, collaboration, speaking, and writing on agile methodologies, best practices, and use cases. Angela has spent over 50 years in public service. She led the Congressional Research Service (CRS) as its deputy director for 13 years and is Dean Emerita of the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs (LBJ School). Read more about Angela.
  • Dr. Karen Hardy is a Visting Fellow (Risk Management) with The IBM Center for The Business of Government. Karen is the President & Chief Risk Officer for the Association for Federal Enterprise Risk Management. Formerly, Karen led the Department of Commerce's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) initiative, which was recognized by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as a federal Best Practice. Her work has been credited with pioneering risk management literature across government, and she has received numerous awards for her performance, including two bronze medal awards..  Read more about Karen.
  • Dr. Danny Harris is a Visting Fellow (IT modernization and IT investments in government) with The IBM Center for The Business of Government. Danny was formerly the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Department of Education from 2008 to 2016. As the CIO, he maintained all of the department's mission critical information system resources. Prior to becoming the CIO, Danny served as the Deputy CFO. He oversaw financial management, internal control and audit resolution, financial systems, contracts and procurement, and grants policy issues. Prior to becoming Deputy CFO, Danny served as Director, Financial Systems Operations in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Department of Education since September 1998.  Read more about Danny.
  • Chris Mihm is a Visting Fellow (Preparing for Future Shocks) and Advisory Council Chair for The IBM Center for The Business of Government. Chris is an Adjunct Professor with the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs with Syracuse University. He was formerly the Managing Director for Strategic Issues with the Government Accountability Office. Read more about Chris.
  • Professor Praja Trivedi is a Senior Fellow (Governance) and a Director, Economic, Social and Sustainable Development Directorate, Commonwealth Secretariat, in London. In addition, he is a Visiting Economics Faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Professor Trivedi will highlight government performance management with a focus on other countries' programs, best practices, and challenges.  Read more about Praja.
Visiting Fellows write blogs and reports on their field of interest to share important insights with our colleagues and stakeholders across government, industry, and academia.

 

Good Government Community

The Center is a part of a growing "Good Government" community, which is comprised of organizations that make it their mission to improve the effectiveness of government.

 

Advisory Council

We are honored to announce the formation of a new advisory council. The members of this Council are former international, federal, and state and local government executives, and leaders from academia and nonprofit partners. The Council will discuss a variety of topics that range from improving civic education and enhancing government performance management to facilitating effective intergovernmental relations and leveraging the Center's content using storytelling and AI. Learn more about our Advisory Council Members.