Our Blog

We have all heard people clamor that the federal government should be run like a business. Those people are wrong. The federal government is not a business and should NOT run like a business. Businesses are incented to maximize shareholder return which is often equated to some measure of profitability.  (more…)

It is easy for those inside and outside of the “beltway” to take shots at the workings of the federal government. Admittedly there are problems with talent acquisition and retention, fiscal management, and project management just to name a few. However, one of the beacons of hope is our very own Government Accountability Office. (more…)

During my sophomore year in college my girlfriend at the time made a mixtape of my favorite songs. It was a very thoughtful overture. Yet today her efforts would be considered unnecessary and inefficient. There is no need to record songs from CDs or other tapes onto a new tape. Instead we outsource the development of playlists to Spotify, Pandora, or the other latest music streaming service. (more…)

No matter the IT project – commercial or federal system deployment, agile or waterfall development methodology, cloud or on-premise solutions – you need more time to test. You just do. (more…)

0

Last month, the Vergys team attended Fosterly’s much-talked-about Collaborate conference—a convergence of government execs, DC insiders, start-uppers and change agents who have heard, and heeded, technology’s siren song. Sweet and seductive, the new wave of innovative thinking can easily lead one astray. So every now and then, it’s important to corral the troops, steady the pace, and find ways to cooperatively tackle today’s biggest challenges. (more…)

We often hear about the need to improve communication on projects – maybe too often. The problem isn’t the frequency of communication, but the effectiveness of the communication.  (more…)

I know it is preposterous to consider one of the best orators of our generation and champion for the under classes of our society to be the chief information officer for the federal government – preposterous but also somewhat intriguing. Based on what we know about the man and his causes here are a few issues about which he may have been passionate. (more…)

The days of drafting voluminous 5 year strategic plans are dead. They are expensive to create, rarely, if ever referenced, and quickly become obsolete. Some suggest strategic planning is now all about flexibility and execution because technology is moving too fast; new, better information is constantly available; and making course corrections aren’t nearly as costly or time consuming as in times past. (more…)

Over the years I have met many very good consultants and consulting companies. Invariably they share some of the same traits – standards that I try very hard to uphold. These consultants are prompt, take notes, listen attentively, meet promised delivery dates, and tell the hard truths. There are never concerns about their competence, because they are over-qualified for the work assigned. (more…)

The launch date has arrived. After months filled with team meetings, status reports, and planning documents, your team can confidently assert the project was delivered on-time and on-budget. The system is in production and running smoothly. Congratulatory emails flood the inbox of all involved and everyone is pleased. So, why is the project still a failure? Why, because the project didn’t achieve the business goals. (more…)