IBM Center Call for Research Report ProposalsOver the past 10 years, the IBM Center for The Business of Government has awarded more than 300 scholars with stipends to produce research reports on improving the effectiveness of government, resulting in more than 225 published reports and books. Since 1998, academics from across the world have competed to prepare insightful and practical research reports and case studies to assist public sector executives at all levels of government to more effectively respond to their mission and management challenges.
The Center is pleased to solicit research proposals based on the following six themes:
1. Performance improvement and analysis,
2. Implementation of the Recovery Act,
3. Workforce transformation,
4. Collaboration and management across boundaries,
5. Contracting and acquisition, and
6. Transparency and participatory democracy using technology.
Within each of these areas, we are particularly interested in proposals that address:
* Federal finance, budget and the economy
* Healthcare
* Energy & environment
* CybersecurityIBM Center for The Business of GovernmentIBM CTBG_a11d00e8-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2aThe IBM Center for The Business of Government connects public management research with practice. Since 1998, we have helped public sector executives improve the effectiveness of government with practical ideas and original thinking. We sponsor independent research by top minds in academe and the nonprofit sector, and we create opportunities for dialogue on a broad range of public management topics. The Center is one of the ways IBM seeks to advance knowledge on how to improve public sector effectiveness. The Center focuses on the future of the operation and management of the public sector.Albert MoralesManaging PartnerJonathan D. BreulExecutive Director_a11d03e0-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2aConnect public management research with practice._a11d05ac-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2aPerformance Improvement and AnalysisSet priority goals, demonstrate progress in achieving goals, and explain performance trends._a11d0688-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2a1How should government set priority goals, demonstrate progress in achieving goals, and explain performance trends? In developing this approach, how should they engage the public, legislature, and outside experts to develop a better and more open performance measurement process that improves results and outcomes? How should program evaluation relate to performance improvement and analysis? Topics of interest include case studies of successful performance improvement and analysis techniques, their impact, and lessons learned._a11d0732-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2aRecovery ActImplement the Recovery Act._a11d07dc-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2a2Federal, state and local governments are committed to implementing the Recovery Act with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Topics of interest include case studies, findings and recommendations regarding:
planning and implementation to meet crucial accountability objectives,
following the dollars,
risk management,
performance reporting, and
lessons for the future._a11d087c-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2aWorkforce TransformationTransform the Government workforce._a11d0930-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2a3Government performance depends heavily on the quality of its workforce. Transforming the federal workforce is a critical component of enhanced public service. Topics of interest include:
strategic alignment of the workforce to mission and program requirements,
workforce planning and management,
talent management including the recruitment, retention and development of talent,
developing a results-oriented performance culture, workforce security, telework, and workforce ––transformation,
human resource service delivery models and ––accountability, and
using Web 2.0 tools to support the workforce and ––the workplace._a11d09ee-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2aCollaboration and ManagementCollaborate and management across boundaries_a11d0aac-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2a4Governing effectively in the 21st Century involves managing public sector resources, acquiring needed resources from the private and public sectors, and collaborating within and across levels of government. Topics of interest include case studies, findings and recommendations on successfully managing across boundaries._a11d0b74-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2aContracting and AcquisitionReform Federal contracting and acquisition._a11d0c46-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2a5The growing interdependence of public and private workforces for federal programs has been a trend for decades. The federal government is committed to greater transparency, stronger ethics, more competition and rethinking the roles of contractors and government employees. It is essential that the federal government have the capacity to carry out robust and thorough management and oversight of its contracts in order to achieve programmatic goals, avoid significant overcharges, and curb wasteful spending. Topics of interest include:
government contracting oversight issues, and practical steps that can be taken to improve how ––agencies acquire and use goods and services via contracts._a11d0d18-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2aTransparency and DemocracyUse technology to foster transparency and participatory democracy._a11d0dfe-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2a6Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their government is doing. Technology increasingly allows the federal government to provide citizens with improved access to information about the use of their tax dollars and with opportunities to give feedback. Topics of interest include:
how government can leverage the power of Web 2.0 and related social media as new tools for governing,
case studies of electronic delivery of information, programs, and services,
the impact of technologies such as Web 2.0, social networking, blogging and wikis,
the use of technology to increase transparency, accountability and citizen engagement,
case studies of ways to balance program and security needs, and implications for privacy._a11d0ee4-2dfe-11df-91fe-13597a64ea2a2009-06-012010-12-312010-03-12OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net