The Lost Opportunity of the 2012 ElectionsIt’s obviously asking too much to suggest that this kind of discussion be a part of the election narrative. But it’s not asking too much for it to become a part of the transition narrative, regardless of who wins in November. Austerity is real and the challenges we face as a nation are enormous. In the end, we’ll likely only be successful if we demand and drive a very different kind of conversation. A conversation about which we can all say “I approved this message.”Stan Soloway_77580242-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24cPresident and chief executive officer of the Professional Services Council. Government Network...“government” is not one thing; it is actually a network of delivery mechanisms that includes organic civil servants and the uniformed military, the private sector, universities, state and local governments, and non-profit organizations. Thus, one question we should be asking, but for the most part are avoiding, is how we can capitalize on that network to drive higher performance and lower cost.Civil ServantsUniformed MilitaryPrivate SectorState GovernmentsLocal Governments Non-Profit Organizations... higher performance and lower cost_7758044a-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24cTo to reset the discussion and talk about what a modern government looks like _775804fe-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24cHigh PerformanceLow CostNetworkingCollaborationTransparency Competition AccountabilityCommunicationPublic-Private PartnershipsBusiness RelationshipsWhole of GovernmentEmbrace the network_7758058a-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24c1First, embrace the network, or what some call the “whole of government.” Stop seeking to divide by sector, or vilify one sector for the benefit of another. That just feeds the natural competitiveness between the sectors and fosters a far more politically heated environment than is healthy or necessary. Each has an important role to play. None is entitled to protectionism. And each must play under similar rules of transparency, competition and accountability. Most of all, rather than focusing on how federal dollars are allocated among the components of the network, we should focus instead on the outcomes those dollars deliver._77580620-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24cCollaborationDemand collaboration_775806ca-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24c2Second, demand collaboration. Every theory of change management recognizes the importance of, and is largely based on, collaboration. When missions are dependent on a complex, interconnected web of delivery mechanisms, collaboration is even more vital. Unfortunately, despite the administration’s efforts to re-energize communications between government and industry, true collaboration remains the exception and too many individual policy initiatives have suffered the unintended consequence of driving the sectors further apart, rather than closer together. Moreover, while the administration’s most welcome “Mythbusters” campaign stresses the permissibility of communications, the message needs to be that communication and collaboration are not just nice and okay, but are essential, even mandatory, if we are to optimize results._7758076a-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24cAffordabilityRedefine the meaning of “affordability”_7758081e-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24c3Finally, we must redefine the meaning of “affordability.” We are told that affordability is one of the reasons we see a dominance of low priced contract awards and we’re told it’s one reason we see contractor margins or staff salaries being arbitrarily capped. But that’s because we too often misinterpret the term. Specifically, the term is generally tied to the amount of funding the government has available at any given moment. This is especially problematic given the typically short and narrow planning horizons that now dominate government.Network Resources[Apply] the collective resources of the network [to] expand that which the government can afford_775808d2-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24c3.1The real question is how the collective resources of the network can expand that which the government can afford, all with an eye to doing it better-- not to gild the lily, but to deliver solutions in a timely and effective way that optimizes the chances of both short and long term viability.It’s been done through public-private partnerships for military housing, for energy management initiatives in federal facilities, and elsewhere. But that is all rapidly becoming ancient history. Alternative Financing & Business Relationships[Consider] how alternative financing and other creative and balanced business relationships can enable the government to access more resources and spend smarter_77580990-1fd9-11e2-834a-4f133736e24c3.2There is far too little discussion today of how alternative financing and other creative and balanced business relationships can enable the government to access more resources and spend smarter. Instead, the operative theory seems to be that more rules, more cuts by fiat, and more distancing of the government from its network partners can solve the problem. And that’s simply wrong.2012-10-252012-10-26http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2012/10/25/insights-soloway-lost-opportunity.aspx?s=wtdaily_261012OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net