Performance Management
The Surmountable Barriers to Measuring Performance in Government
Charlie Francis, Governing
The tools could be better, and organizational inertia is an issue. But those problems can be overcome. It’s worth the effort.

Analytics/Evaluation
Congress Wants to Boost Agency Use of Evidence in Program Evaluation
Charles Clark, Government Executive
Improving data to measure outcomes is not a pretext to cut spending, panelists say.
Can Congress put evidence-based policymaking into practice?
Ben Berliner, Federal Computer Week
A bipartisan commission wants the government to use program data to determine whether policies work, but there are political barriers.
The Case for Evidence in Government
Douglas Criscitello, Government Executive
Data alone can’t provide insight into the effectiveness of government programs—sophisticated analysis is vital.

Customer Service
Trump tech office looks to improve customer experience
Chase Gunter, Federal Computer Week
A senior White House tech adviser said that administration’s priorities include improving citizen-facing services, shared services and pushing open government legislation.

Innovation
The VA Innovators Network innovation specialists are changing culture from within
Tajha Chappallet-Lanier, Fedscoop
VA has created an internal innovation unit focused on creating a network of innovators that help improve operations for patients in hospitals and other venues.

Leadership
Amid reorg, agency leaders push for SES reforms
Chase Gunter, Federal Computer Week
Amid reorganization and downsizing, agency leaders want to ensure there’s a healthy pipeline for the senior executive service to carry out its mission.

Reorganization
Making Trump’s Government Reforms Stick
Fred Panzer and Anna Weldon, Government Executive
Agency plans are due this week — that’s just the beginning for federal managers.