Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better

 “Inside government…,” notes Jennifer Pahlka, former U.S. deputy chief technology officer, “the digital revolution played out very differently. Even as our expectations about the immediacy and accuracy of services have skyrocketed, the implementation of laws has become anything but easier.

Weekly Roundup: June 5-9, 2023

VA’s DelBene: Contractors Playing Integral Innovation Role. VA is driving forward the idea that when it comes to technology and innovation, federal contractors need to become an integral part of the government team. Kurt DelBene, VA’s chief information officer (CIO), said “One of the things that we’ve observed – and I’ve noted as I joined – is that there’s an arm’s length typically too often between the contractor and the full-time teams.

Using IT and Data to Meet Mission

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is to promote the progress of science. It promotes the progress of science by investing in research to expand knowledge in science, engineering, and education. NSF also invests in actions that increase the capacity of the U.S. to conduct and exploit such research. NSF research has made possible many of the technological advances that have improved medicine, communications, transportation, manufacturing, and the utilization of natural resources, together with a broad range of other impacts on our lives.

Leaders Speak on Federal IT: A Special Edition of The Business of Government Hour

What emerging technology is transforming how government agencies operate? How are federal agencies pursuing IT modernization? What are some of key challenges facing the chief information officers of federal agencies? Join host Michael Keegan for a Special Edition of The Business of Government Hour – Leaders Speak on Federal IT -- sharing insights from key senior federal IT leaders on the IT journey of their agencies.
Broadcast Date: 
Monday, August 28, 2023 - 10:44

Weekly Roundup: May 8-12, 2023

What's going on with DHS' enterprise cloud plan? The Department of Homeland Security teased its plan for a 10-year enterprise cloud contract in the fall and then went relatively quiet. Based on previous cloud procurements, that could be a good thing. 

Weekly Roundup: April 24-28, 2023

How Local Governments Can Rise to the Infrastructure Complexity Challenge. To take advantage of the federal government’s $2 trillion in investments, municipalities must think big, start small and scale fast.  By recognizing some of these challenges in advance, county and municipal leaders can adopt strategies to help them realize the ambitious goals of these programs.

Weekly Roundup: April 17-21, 2023

The 2023 Federal 100. Meet those recognized by their peers as exceptional contributors to federal IT in 2022.  Hundreds of nominations were submitted, and a panel of government and industry judges deliberated for hours. The result? A list of 100 men and women who personify what's possible in federal IT. 

Weekly Roundup: April 10-14, 2023

DHA preps for MHS Genesis follow-on contract. The Defense Health Agency is conducting market research on a sustainment contract for the military's $5.5 billion electronic health records program. The contract, which spans 10-years and includes a team of contractors charged with delivering and integrating the Cerner electronic health record into the work of more than 200,000 care providers and 9.6 million beneficiaries. 

NEW REPORT: Beyond Resilience—The Case for Adaptability

With disruption now the norm rather than the exception, governments need to rethink business as usual and prepare for business as disrupted. Government executives and managers should plan for continuous disruption and for how their agencies and departments will operate under continuous turbulence and change. In 2022 alone, we witnessed the impact of war,  the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and natural disasters such as Hurricane Ian—not to men­tion energy scarcity, supply chain shortages, the start of a global recession, record highs for inflation, and rising interest rates.

Employing Secure and Scalable Cloud Solutions: A Special Edition of The Business of Government Hour

What is cloud computing? Why are U.S federal agencies increasingly employing secure and scalable cloud solutions? How does doing this help agencies transform how they operate?  Join host Michael Keegan as he explores these questions and more on The Business of Government Hour.

 

Broadcast Date: 
Monday, July 10, 2023 - 10:43

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Leadership Fellow & Host
IBM Center for The Business of Government
600 14th Street, NW Second Floor
Washington, DC 20005
United States
202-551-9339

Michael has two decades of experience with both the private and public sectors encompassing strategic planning, business process redesign, strategic communications and marketing, performance management, change management, executive and team coaching, and risk-financing.

Michael leads the IBM Center for The Business of Government's leadership research. As the Center’s Leadership Fellow, his work is at the nexus of the Center’s mission – connecting research to practice. My work at that the Center complements frontline experience of actual government executives with practical insights from thought leaders who produce Center reports – merging real-world experience with practical scholarship. The purpose is not to offer definitive solutions to the many management challenges facing executives, but to provide a resource from which to draw practical, actionable recommendations on how best to confront such issues. Michael also hosts and produces the IBM Center’s The Business of Government Hour. He has interviewed and profiled hundreds of senior government executives from all levels of government as well as recognized thought leaders focusing on a range of public management issues and trends. Over the last four years, Michael has expanded both the show’s format and reach – now broadcasting informational and educational conversations with dedicated public servants on two radio stations five times a week and anywhere at anytime over the web and at iTunes. Michael is also the managing editor of The Business of Government magazine, with a targeted audience of close to 14,000 government and non-government professionals. Additionally, he manages the Center’s bi-annual proposal review process that awards stipends to independent, third party researchers tackling a wide range of public management issues.

Prior to joining the Center, Michael worked as a senior managing consultant with IBM GBS (Global Business Services) and as a principle consultant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Washington Consulting Practice (WCP). He led projects in the private and federal civilian sectors including the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, FEMA, and the Veterans Health Administration. Before entering consulting, he worked in the private sector as product development manager at a New York City based risk financing firm.

Since 2003, Mr. Keegan has been a reviewer for Association of Government Accountant’s Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR)© program, keeping abreast of the most recent developments in authoritative standards affecting federal accounting, financial reporting and performance measurement. He is also a member of APPAM, the NYU Alumni Association, and the Data Center & Cloud Talent, USA. He holds masters in public administration and management from New York University and was the founder of its DC alumni group as well as previous treasurer of the NYU graduate school’s alumni board.