ASPA Center for Accountability & Performance

Performance Management
Observations on facilitating effective use of government performance information
Richard Beck, PIC.gov
There’s a difference between providing performance information and having it considered and used in decision-making.

Reorganization
When Interagency Conflict Is a Good Thing
John Kamensky, Government Executive
Sometimes, seemingly duplicative programs can create needed checks and balances.

Analytics/Evaluation
Workforce, data likely to be first priorities of WH research center
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
The Government Effectiveness Advanced Research Center is expected to focus on retraining the workforce and finding better ways to leverage government data.
Treasury’s Data Lab makes federal spending numbers more accessible, engaging
Amelia Brust, Federal Newss Radio
Every quarter, roughly 100 agencies submit trillions of dollars’ worth of federal spending data to the Data Lab on USASpending.gov. Organizing that data, and helping researchers and the general public alike make sense of it is its mission.

Innovation
One City’s Path to Smart City Leadership
Stephen Goldsmith, Governing
As San Jose has shown, it’s as much about having the right people and organizational structures in place as it is about technology.

Open Government
Are federal agencies doing enough with social media?
Chase Gunter, Federal Computer Week
Despite a $1.5 billion price tag for federal agencies’ social media use, many employees believe their organizations aren’t doing enough.

Risk Management
DHS launching ‘risk radar’ for agency leaders to see big picture on cyber threats
Jory Heckman, Federal News Radio
The Department of Homeland Security plans to launch a “risk radar” next fiscal year aimed at helping agency leaders better understand their cybersecurity strategies.

Strategic Planning
Strategic Planning Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Adrian Evans-Burke, PIC.gov
This article provides an overview of best practices and lessons learned related to developing strategic plans.

Reorganization
Three Critical Priorities In the President’s Reform Plan
Matt Erskine, Government Executive
As federal leaders navigate the challenging terrain ahead they should focus on these high return components.

Management
Smart Use of Incentives Would Support Government Reform
Howard Risher, Government Executive
There is extensive evidence that incentives—if they are well designed—produce better results. But there are many examples of poorly-designed incentives pushing people to act in ways detrimental to their organization.
Cautionary Tales from Past Attempts at Pay-for-Performance
Erich Wagner, Government Executive
Merit board warns of pitfalls in changing compensation structures.
Program Management Is Much More Complex Than Many Leaders Understand
John Kamensky, Government Executive
There isn’t a single optimal approach. Different types of programs demand different skill sets.
Employee empowerment and improved performance: The missing link
Steve Kelman, Federal Computer Week
It has long been assumed that empowering employees can boost an organization’s performance, but new research delivers data that supports this.

Analytics and Evaluation
EPA embracing data analytics from daily operations to chemical investigations
Amelia Brust, Federal News Radio
EPA’s Chief Data Scientist is hoping to create a decentralized data science team that will let different program offices know what data science can do for them.

Innovation
Why Proven Solutions Struggle to Scale Up
Kriss Deiglmeier and Amanda Greco, Stanford Social Innovation Review
Many social innovations fail because they are unable to bridge the “stagnation chasm.” Here is a look at the resources, ecosystems, and skills needed to overcome it.

Performance Management
5 Ways Agencies Can Link Program Cost, Performance and Impact
Robert Shea and Tim Gribben, Government Executive
The financial management, performance and evidence communities too often fail to work together effectively.
On Gaining Acceptance for Performance Pay in Government
Howard Risher, Government Executive
Effective incentives strengthen engagement by rewarding employee contributions.

Analytics/Evaluation
What Government’s Broken Strategic Planning Needs: Evidence
Andrew Feldman, Government Executive
Instead of trying to create the perfect strategic plan, agencies should aim to get better at learning what works.

Customer Service
Designers Are Driving Culture Change in City Hall
Zack Quaintance, Government Technology
The philosophies often used by designers to create human-centered products are generating a culture change within local government.

Reorganization
OPM Begins Planning Its Reorganization Despite Pushback From Lawmakers
Eric Katz, Government Executive
Appropriations bill provisions would block unilateral efforts to reshape the Office of Personnel Management, the General Services Administration and other agencies.
Moving Beyond ‘Boxology’
John Kamensky, Government Executive
Government reform will demand more than just reshuffling the organization chart. So far, there are some positive signs.

Analytics/Evaluation
A path to deal with data chaos and avoid mission failure
Jason Miller, Federal News Radio
Agencies should take a three-step process to help them answer questions using data.

Innovation
White House looks to GEAR up
Mark Rockwell, Federal Computer Week
The Trump administration wants input on a new center that would bring together government and industry researchers and academics to help modernize processes and services.
Getting past the buzzwords on innovation
Lauren Williams, Federal Computer Week
If the Army’s new Futures Command is going to be a success, the service’s culture will have to change.
Inside the agency where you wish you worked
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
The U.S. Digital Service doesn’t look or operate like a typical government office. Step inside an organization bringing private sector innovation to public sector problems.

Open Government
Only One-Quarter of Agencies Publishing Timely, Accurate Spending Data, Says GAO
Jack Corrigan, Nextgov
Eight agencies submitted financial data that was more than 75 percent wrong.
The DATA Act compliance struggle is real
Chase Gunter, Federal Computer Week
After more than a year’s worth of DATA Act reporting, just six of the 24 CFO Act agencies submitted data agency watchdogs considered complete.
The Roadmap to Engaging Government’s Employees
Robert Lavigna, Governing
Surveying them is the first step. It’s important to do it right — and then act on the results.

Reorganization
GAO wants better data, more workforce planning for government reorg
Chase Gunter, Federal Computer Week
The administration’s proposed changes have the potential to save money long-term, but Congress’ investigative arm wants to make sure the plan takes previous reorg attempts into account.
Dems on Trump reorg: ‘Where’s the data?’
Derek Johnson, Federal Computer Week
Democrats in the Senate are reluctant to support the Trump administration’s reorganization plan before OMB provides the underlying analysis used to justify claims it would lead to smoother governance.
Tempers Flare as White House Defends Reorg Proposal Against Accusations of Stonewalling
Eric Katz, Government Executive
The White House released proposals last month, but OMB Deputy Director for Management Margaret Weichert said the suggestions were merely preliminary submissions.
The top 4 proposals in the federal reorganization lineup
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
The government reorganization plan released last month included over 30 proposals to change the functions and authorities of various government agencies. Four of those items could see the earliest movement forward.

Collaboration
The Magic of “Multisolving”
Elizabeth Sawin, Stanford Social Innovation Review
Six principles and practices to unlock cross-sectoral collaboration.

Customer Service
Why customer-centered government empowers feds
Jessie Bur, Federal Times
Recent emphasis on customer-centered government may have the side effect of empowering federal employees to have more involvement in agency improvements.
USDA aims to become ‘faster, friendlier and easier,’ without more funding
Jory Heckman, Federal News Radio
Responding to the Trump administration’s push to improve service, the USDA has tasked its agency heads to appoint “customer experience champions,” whose full-time job is dedicated to improving service. All told, the USDA has appointed 40 customer service champions.