Accountability, transparency and their unintended consequences

Organizations that emphasize accountability and transparency often find it difficult to improve performance, writes blogger Steve Kelman.

How to land a superstar executive

Recruiting top-level government contractor executives involves a feeling-out process, something akin to a dance, before negotiations can begin. Both sides have certain restrictions and play their hands close to the vest.

Note to feds: Go forth and fail!

There's a fine line between being on top of a project and stifling workers' skills, FCW cartoonist and blogger John Klossner writes.

Performance measures and risk: What should leaders stand for?

Blogger Steve Kelman challenges his students to ponder why some politicians are willing to commit to a goal if there is a chance they might fail.

Waving the public service banner at the Kennedy School

An event during the first week of classes illustrates why it can be a challenge to attract students to work for government, writes blogger Steve Kelman.

How not to recruit potential employees and influence people

Cartoonist John Klossner says federal recruiters might not want prospective employees to check out the reader comments at FCW.com

4 reasons why federal managers resist telework

In response to a recent blog post, federal managers explain why they would rather not allow employees to work from home.

The 3 most common complaints about federal managers

Without a doubt, the most common complaint we hear from federal employees is that some federal managers are falling down on the job, writes the FCW Insider.

Should being a fed be a round-the-clock job?

Federal employees might take off their badges when they get home, but they never stop being federal employees, even on Facebook, one reader writes.

In the future, everyone may be a cybersecurity professional

A recent study on the “Human Capital Crisis in Cybersecurity” could be the spark for a wholesale change in the way the entire government IT work force is trained and certified, writes blogger Brian Robinson.

Five reasons why some feds would rather not telework

Make no mistake: The vast majority of readers commenting on telework stories in recent weeks clearly favor having the option to work from home on a regular basis. But here is the minority report.

Why do federal managers oppose telework?

We have to ask: Do government supervisors have legitimate reasons for not letting federal employees telework?

Steve Kelman's summer reading list

Blogger Steve Kelman is keeping busy with books about organization theory and public administration.

How to improve the performance of the federal workforce

Civilian agencies need to take a cue from the Defense Department and begin focusing their employees on mission, not process, according to one reader.

Lockheed opens doors to execs’ voluntary departure

Lockheed Martin Corp. has unveiled a program intended to save money and trim the number of its directors and vice presidents, according to a company statement dated July 6.

Is it leadership and innovation? Or leadership vs. innovation?

FCW cartoonist John Klossner ponders the different approaches to managing for change.

Contest: How many federal employees does it take to change a light bulb?

FCW cartoonist and blogger John Klossner is taking entries now, with plans to publish the best and worst in a future blog post.

Want program staff more involved in contracting? Make their jobs more interesting

Blogger Steve Kelman proposes a way to strengthen the role of the contracting officer's technical representative in the procurement process.

Beyond telework: How the federal workplace ought to work

Federal managers need to stop worrying about where their employees are working and start focusing on what work is getting done, according to Deloitte's Anne Weisberg and William D. Eggers.

Porn provision stalls House IT bill

Reauthorization of the America Competes law to boost technology and innovation got stalled by a GOP motion that would punish federal employees caught watching pornography at work.