The below blog was written by and published with permission by Steve O’Keeffe. Steve O’Keeffe is the founder of MeriTalk –www.meritalk.com – the government IT network. MeriTalk is an online community that hosts professional networking, thought leadership, and focused events to drive the government IT dialogue. A 20-year veteran of the government IT community, O’Keeffe has worked in government and industry. In addition to MeriTalk, he founded Telework Exchange, GovMark Council, and O’Keeffe & Company
The definition of insanity. Assume the same behavior and expect a different outcome. So, we’re for change. That’s why we launched MeriTalk - and the Merit Awards on June 13. The Merit Awards aren't a CIO-stroking contest - aren’t black-tie soirees vulgar in an era of government austerity? We want to incent and recognize real change in IT's bottom line.
Yes, we're for change. That's why the Merit Awards are an open, global contest - to challenge the failing status quo. A $50,000 prize for the best idea to fix our government with IT. Funded by industry and judged together by government and industry. More than hollow platitudes about innovation - a very real incentive for new ideas.
I cut the first Merit Awards check on September 13. Congratulations to our winner Aung Gye of the Federal Highway Administration. Aung’s idea to set up a clearing house for agencies to pool resources is so simple, it’s brilliant. Why should Treasury buy a new van when Agriculture has a spare parked in the lot? Check out our five finalists to tune into other ideas to make D.C. better. Interesting that as everybody in D.C. piles on in attacking Federal employees, four of the five finalists are Federal employees. What a concept - perhaps the best people to fix government are those that know it best, as opposed to the next shower of appointees blown in with a new administration?
Now, here’s the rub. We’ve got five fantastic ideas to fix government with IT. Half of our judges are Feds. Congress is also chiming in. How do we stop the madness - and improve America’s outcomes? The challenge to OMB, GSA, Congress, and the White House - how do we take these ideas off the drawing board and put them into action? If we can’t do it, that $50,000 check will feel more like a tax bill than a down payment on our children’s future…
This entry can also be found on Meritalk, here.
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