ASPA Center for Accountability & Performance

Analytics/Evaluation
OMB: Evidence Act guidance in ‘very last stages’ of clearance process
Jory Heckman, Federal News Network
In order for agencies to get a better understanding of what’s expected from them under the Evidence Act, OMB soon expects to release guidance.
Updated Federal Data Strategy and Draft Action Plan Coming Soon
Aaron Boyd, Nextgov
The final action plan is set to be released in August, with deliverables for agencies to meet within one year.
The U.S. military is trying to figure out how to talk about data
Billy Mitchell, FedScoop
Leaders think the adoption of AI, among other things, will help services learn to talk about and embrace data.

Innovation
Government improvement challenge to look for many solutions in one
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
The federal government is offering the private sector the opportunity to influence which projects its upcoming Government Effectiveness Advanced Research Center will address and offering cash prizes to do so.
SBA hackathon developers leverage AI, agency data sets for disaster recovery tools
Jory Heckman, Federal News Network
As part of Small Business Week, SBA held its second annual hackathon, which gave developers an opportunity to leverage government data and build tools to speed up disaster recovery.

Leadership
OPM Streamlines Process for Agencies to Request New Executives
Erich Wagner, Government Executive
New process focuses on establishing agencies’ needs, rather than analyzing individual positions.

Reorganization
OPM Chief to Propose Legislation for Merger With GSA By Week’s End
Erich Wagner, Government Executive
The acting OPM Director will be submitting proposed legislation to Congress authorizing the merger.
What if Congress doesn’t want to move OPM?
Adam Mazmanian, Federal Computer Week
If Congress doesn’t go along with a plan to reorganize OPM the agency still plans to push ahead administratively through outsourcing.
‘Greatest risk we have is doing nothing:’ Trump administration details case for OPM reorg
Nicole Ogyrsko, Federal News Network
The administration has announced more details behind its proposed reorganization of OPM, a week before the plan is scheduled to receive more intense congressional scrutiny.

Management
DATA Act Collection Effort Worked Better for Grants Than Contracts
Charles Clark, Nextgov
GAO found documentation gaps in pilot plan for creating central portal.
One State’s Proven Strategy for Civil Service Reform
Howard Risher, Government Executive
Tennessee has succeeded in shifting to outcomes-based management.
OPM and Pentagon team up to streamline employee training
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
The agreement aims to make Department of Defense training courses more efficient and cross-applicable with other federal agencies.

Analytics/Evaluation
Agencies trying to find their ‘dark data’ face policy, leadership hurdles
Dave Nyczepir, FedScoop
Dark data is all the unknown and therefore unused data across an agency, while grey data is known but unused. IT managers agree capturing this data should be a top priority, but antiquated policies and lack of senior-level support remain major hurdles.

Customer Service
How Improving Employee Experience Leads to Better Citizen Experience
Aaron Boyd, Nextgov
Happier, more productive employees lead to better citizen services and customer experiences, officials said.

Innovation
White House Unveils Joint Committee to Invigorate U.S. Research Communities
Brandi Vincent, Nextgov
Co-chairs from across federal agencies will work together on policy-making insights.
OMB and GSA launch GEAR Center challenge to ‘test the feasibility of the model’
Tajha Chappellet-Lanier, FedScoop
The latest step in the journey toward creating a Government Effectiveness Advanced Research (GEAR) Center is a government challenge.
Innovation From Within: How One Employee-Built Tool is Revolutionizing VA
Frank Konkel, Nextgov
An open source tool called LEAF is saving the Veterans Affairs Department time, resources and perhaps millions in taxpayer dollars.
Army innovation lab experiments with coders on the battlefield
Lauren Williams, Federal Computer Week
The service’s newly launched innovation lab, Army Applications Laboratory, is working to expand ability for soldiers to code in the field to repair communications systems.
Artificial Intelligence in Government Act is back, with ‘smart and effective’ use on senators’ minds
Tajha Chappellet-Lanier, FedScoop
Legislation to boost the government’s use of artificial intelligence is returning with bipartisan sponsorship and a long list of industry supporters.

Leadership
10 Lessons Learned in Search of Success as a Leader
Art Petty, Government Executive
Newsflash: there are no shortcuts to great leadership.

Management
Lawmakers Voice Bipartisan Concern Over ‘Chaos’ at Homeland Security
Eric Katz, Government Executive
Top watchdogs also say turnover is hurting the department.
White House launches new shared services initiative
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
The Trump administration wants federal agencies to share more systems and services, rather than developing or purchasing their own, and has announced it will be launching a new strategy to encourage that transition.
What Agencies Get From Taking Leadership Roles In New Shared Services Regime
Aaron Boyd, Nextgov
The administration is asking select departments to take the lead on governmentwide services. But don’t think it’s charity on the part of the agencies.

Analytics/Evaluation
Centers for Civic Impact Launches at Johns Hopkins University
Zack Quaintance, Government Technology
The new organization essentially consolidates the Center for Government Excellence (GovEx), the Center for Applied Public Research and the new GovEx Academy under one umbrella.

Collaboration
Collaborative Problem Solvers Are Made Not Born – Here’s What You Need To Know
Stephen Fiore, Government Executive
From the biggest ‘wicked’ problems on down, finding solutions to challenges depends on working together collaboratively.

Innovation
Race is on to create GEAR Center for federal applied research
Amelia Brust, Federal News Network
GSA and OMB announced a new competition to create a Government Effectiveness Advanced Research (GEAR) Center, which would be a public-private partnership to bring together experts from agencies, academia and industry.
Government Offering Prizes for Best Ideas to Stand Up GEAR Center
Frank Konkel, Nextgov
Challenge.gov is offering up to $300,000 to teams or individuals who submit the best proposals.

Management
OMB’s Unfinished Business on Improving Government Performance
Charles Clark, Government Executive
The White House budget office has implemented Government Accountability Office recommendations at a lower rate than federal agencies governmentwide.
Why Engagement Matters and How to Improve It
John Kamensky, Goverment Executive
The results of past employee viewpoint surveys haven’t been very useful to most frontline managers trying to address challenges specific to their organizations.
Government Workforce Management—Overdue for an Overhaul
William D. Eggers and John O’Leary, Government Executive
Agencies are handicapped by outdated management rules—it isn’t a worker problem, it’s a system problem.
How to Give Employees Effective Feedback
John Kamensky, Goverment Executive
Managers often create more problems than they solve when discussing performance with staff.

Analytics/Evaluation
Basing Laws on Nothing Is Easier Than Using Evidence
John List and Eszter Czibor, Government Executive
Partnerships between policy makers and researchers could improve the lives of millions—but they’re harder than you think.

Innovation
College-to-government pipeline for civic tech takes wing
Steve Kelman, Federal Computer Week
In three short years the Coding it Forward fellowship program has become part of the fabric of federal IT.
How GSA Is Helping the Government Embrace Automation
Jack Corrigan, Nextgov
The agency, which plans to have more than two dozen bots deployed by the end of the year, is standing up a community of practice around the technology.

Open Government
OMB previews next steps on data policy
Chase Gunter, Federal Computer Week
The White House will soon unveil its plan for managing data within and across agencies, as well as guidance for recently passed legislation.
White House’s Push for More Oversight of Agency Data Has Some Scientists Concerned
Eric Katz, Government Executive
OMB wants to make more agency data public, peer reviewed and reproducible.

Management
OPM prods agencies on program management goals
Federal Computer Week
OPM rolled out its guide for program and project management competencies to help agency managers to build a program management workforce.
Performance-based pay might work, but don’t count on it
Jeff Neal, Federal News Network
The author says it’s hard to argue with the idea that top performers should receive some sort of compensation for their work. It is also hard to argue that most performance review processes are credible and effective.

Analytics/Evaluation
Data Coalition and Data Foundation Name New Leader
Zack Quaintance, Government Technology
Nick Hart will serve as CEO for the Data Coalition and interim president for the Data Foundation.

Customer Service
How Customer Experience is Disrupting Government Technology
Frank Konkel, Nextgov
Better service delivery is changing the way implementers and users view technology.

Innovation
Government, private sector team up to boost cyber workforce
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
Private sector companies and government agencies announced  they would be teaming up to institute a cybersecurity talent pipeline to address the general lack of cybersecurity professionals in the US.

Reorganization
House Dems oppose White House reorg plan
Chase Gunter, Federal Computer Week
The White House’s proposal to reorganize and shutter the Office of Personnel Management hit a major snag, with House Oversight Democrats opposing any funding of the plan.