Analytics/Evaluation
Why Your Agency Should Have an Evaluation Policy Now
Andrew Feldman, Government Executive
It’s necessary to comply with the Evidence Act, but it also provides a critical foundation for making the most out of the new law.

Performance Management
Creating a Critical Mass of Talent and Resources
John Kamensky, Government Executive
There are people at all levels of government experienced in using behavioral science to improve program effectiveness. Officials need to seek them out.
GEAR Challenge gives prize to train federal managers on data-driven decision-making
Federal News Network
A group led by the Volcker Alliance is proposing to try out specific curriculum to train a group of federal employees in the use of data and evidence.
MSPB: There’s a Better Way to do Performance Reviews
Courtney Buble, Government Executive
The Merit Systems Protection Board has some advice: spend more time discussing performance and less time haggling over the actual grades.
OPM Calls on Agencies to Streamline Federal Firing
Erich Wagner, Government Executive
Agencies have until March 2020 to eliminate “unnecessary barriers to addressing poor performance,” and even stricter rules are likely on the way.
OPM tells agencies to review, streamline performance management, disciplinary policies
Nicole Ogrysko, Government Executive
Under the latest guidance from the Office of Personnel Management, agencies have new deadlines now to review and then streamline their existing performance management and disciplinary procedures for federal employees.

Customer Service
At 3 agencies, here’s what customer experience overhaul looks like
Jory Heckman, Federal News Network
More than two dozen public-facing program offices have released new data on their annual workloads and are looking at ways to transform their approach to customer service through long-term strategies.

Innovation
GAO Center to Educate Congress on the Big Picture of Future Tech
Aaron Boyd, Nextgov
The Center for Strategic Foresight plans to give lawmakers a broad sense of what’s coming in the future.