ASPA Center for Accountability & Performance

Management
The Federalism Divide Is Shading Government’s Response to COVID-19
Donald F. Kettl, Government Executive
We can’t afford a government where the odds of an effective attack on the novel coronavirus depend on where citizens live.
How to Combat the Lack of Clear and Consistent Metrics
Pearl Kim, GovLoop
Agencies’ journeys to a modern state will require them to address a lack of clear, consistent and measurable metrics to determine the quality of their digital services.
Watchdog: Poor Communication Left HHS Ill-Equipped to Handle Family Separation Policy
Courtney Buble, Government Executive
Leaders ignored warnings from career staff that would have helped them better care for an influx of children, IG found.  

Evidence & Evaluation
Agencies Get Guidance on the Ethics and Rigor Required for Evidence-Based Decision-Making
Aaron Boyd, Nextgov
The second of four policy documents related to the Evidence Act focuses on standards and practices for evaluation officers.

Open Data & Data Governance
Don’t Let Data Die in the Dark
Todd Forsythe, Nextgov
The ramifications of disorganized data can impact a business far beyond paying consumers financial settlements for non-compliance. 
How data is driving the 2020 census to be more accurate, efficient
Jason Miller, Federal News Network
Census made a number of changes to how they’re conducting this year’s census based on data they already had.
CDC: Data modernization would have improved coronavirus detection, tracking
Derek B. Johnson, FCW
CDC officials urged lawmakers today to fund an existing data modernization initiative that they say would have led to faster detection and tracking of coronavirus as it spread across the country.

Management
How Government Program Management Took a Cue from The Big Screen
Dan Chenok, Government Executive
The 1985 film “The Breakfast Club” played a key role in helping government build program management capability.
Customer Service Takes Priority at Federal Agencies
Ryan Peterson, FedTech
New technologies and management goals put citizens’ needs at the top of the list.
The Path to Improved Citizen Digital Experiences
Bob Withers, Nextgov
Measuring digital efforts is critical to creating meaningful improvements for citizens.

Open Data & Data Governance
For Federal Healthcare Agencies, a Case for Better AI Outcomes
Catherine Ordun, Government Executive
As officials increasingly turn to algorithms for assistance, they should be wary of tools that make harnessing artificial intelligence look easy.
What’s New in Civic Tech: Nation Preps for Open Data Day
Zach Quaintance, Government Technology
The 10th Annual Open Data Day is set for Saturday, March 7. Plus, meet the 2020 Innovations in American Government Award finalists; check out these five tips for cities doing data inventories; and take a look at this pair of new digital U.S. Census tools.

Podcasts
Artificial Intelligence: “It gives you possibilities”
John Gilroy & Daniel Serfaty, Federal News Network
The host and his guest discuss practical applications of artificial intelligence in government.

Management
Performance Management: The Emphasis on Accountability
John Kamensky, Government Executive
Clear goals, transparently pursued can be a powerful tool to drive output-oriented performance, but there are caveats.
Performance Management: An Emphasis on Learning
John Kamensky, Government Executive
The trick is getting front-line managers to see value in fostering a learning-driven, problem-solving approach to improving performance.
Update on Performance Initiatives Released
FedWeek
The administration has released an update of activities in 2019 toward its “high-performance government goal.”

Open Data & Data Governance
Which Data Challenges Span Multiple Layers of Government?
Zach Quaintance, Government Technology
Public servants who work with data in cities, counties and states have shared obstacles, including talent recruitment, converting complex ideas into simple language, synchronizing pilots with advance budgeting, and more.
How one data-driven agency — the Census Bureau — found extra value in machine learning
Dave Nyczepir, Fed Scoop
Like many agencies, the Census Bureau looks for reductions in expenses and workloads when it makes decisions. But the agency has discovered another advantage in AI technology: it can find data that employees never knew they needed.
Why feds shouldn’t fear GitHub
Derek B. Johnson, FCW
Agencies shouldn’t be afraid to leverage open-source tools like GitHub during software development, a USCIS IT official said.
USA.gov Shows What Public Wants to Know about the Government
FedWeek
The USA.gov site has released data on what people are seeking when they visit the site.

Podcasts
GovExec Daily: Margaret Weichert’s Legacy
Adam Butler and Ross Gianfortune, Government Executive
In its inaugural episode, GovExec’s new podcast talks about the government career of the OMB and OPM official.
How can agencies ensure their data is protected when it’s not on their network?
Eric White, Federal News Network
Audio covers how agencies have received new ways to protect their data on contractor or non-federal systems.

Management
The President’s Management Agenda: A Work in Progress Two Decades On
Dan Chenok, Government Executive
A look back at the creation of the first PMA and the lessons for leaders today.
Administration Seeks New Performance Carrots and Sticks
FedWeek
The Trump administration wants new incentives and disincentives for job performance for federal employees, all of which would require changes in law and most of which have been proposed unsuccessfully in the past.
OMB’s Weichert leaving for the private sector
Jason Miller and Nicole Ogrysko, Federal News Network
Margaret Weichert, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, is leaving government for consulting.

Open Government
How Agencies Could Incentivize Private Sector Investment in Their Missions
Dan Chenok and John Marshall, Government Executive
The gap between public sector demands and resources could be alleviated though greater leverage of private sector investment, technology, and expertise.
Can access to results from federal research projects be improved?
Andrew Eversdem, Federal Times
The White House Office of Science and Technology wants input on how it can improve public access to peer-reviewed, scholarly work completed with federal funds.

Open Data and Data Governance
It’s a Data Jungle Out There
Isaac Constans, GovLoop
Agencies might want to take the data problem head-on, but with so much data and so few dedicated staffers, where can they begin?

Evidence and Evaluation
When Bigger Is Better
John Kamensky, Government Executive
Validating public policy outcomes is critical, but so is building on the evidence. A new study looks at what’s needed to expand successful programs.
Here are the signs agencies are giving on federal data initiatives
Andrew Eversden, Federal Times
After over a year of the White House directing how to use the federal government’s data, the latest budget requests signal agencies are ready to take over.

Reorganization
11 Major Agency Reforms in Trump’s 2021 Budget
Eric Katz, Government Executive
Some programs would be eliminated or reorganized, others would grow.
White House budget doubles down on reorgs and benefit cuts
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
President Donald Trump’s 2021 budget proposal pushes for many of the same workforce and reorganization changes that the White House campaigned for with the 2020 request.

Collaboration
Future-proofing government by fostering connections
Lia Russell, FCW
According to a new report from the Partnership for Public Service, more interagency collaboration and seamless interactions between agencies and the public are some of what’s needed for the federal government to excel in the years ahead.