Analytics/Evaluation
How Social Services and Performance Contracting Fit Together
Hanna Azemati, Governing
Turning around the lives of at-risk populations requires a focus on outcomes, evidence and rigorous evaluation.
Official: Upcoming Data Strategy Shouldn’t Mean More Work for Feds
Aaron Boyd, Nextgov
The strategy’s action items will focus on how agencies can make better use of the data and programs already in place.

Customer Service
These 3 agencies are leading the way in customer experience
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
Three agencies are leading the way with the administration’s priority to improve citizen experiences with the government.

Innovation
20 years of government going digital
Dan Chenok, Federal Computer Week
Progress on digital government has moved through three major phases over the past 20 years.
White House pitches tech giants on civic service
Chase Gunter, Federal Computer Week
The Office of American Innovation hosted some of the biggest names in U.S. tech to explore ways to inject government with tech expertise from the private sector through “tours of duty.”
Federal CIO: Artificial Intelligence Initiatives Will Flop Without Quality Data
Jack Corrigan, Nextgov
The government’s AI adoption must go hand in hand with improvements to data management.

Management
OPM: Federal Happiness Stagnated in 2018, While Survey Participation Tanked
Erich Wagner, Government Executive
This year marks the first time the annual governmentwide survey of employee attitudes was conducted as a census.
Feds are confident in mission, less so in performance recognition
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
Most federal employees believe that their work is making a difference in their agency’s overall mission and are willing to put in extra effort for that work, but they do not think agencies appropriately reward employees for good performance.
Greater Use of Talent Exchange Programs Tops New List of Proposed Federal Workforce Reforms
Erich Wagner, Government Executive
The Mitre Corp. also suggested expanding hiring authorities and training programs, and a more collaborative relationship with federal employee unions.