The Lectern

• Missing from this shutdown: the usual bureaucrat-bashing

  Steve Kelman notes (happily) that federal workers are being viewed as real people, rather than part of the problem. Read More

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• Barriers to entry in the federal marketplace -- they're not what you think

  Steve Kelman shares some surprising evidence on what really gives would-be contractors pause. Read More

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• Agile without the baggage

  Steve Kelman shares a compelling argument that agencies should skip the buzzwords and simply embrace the principles of better software development. Read More

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• Fun stories -- some involving tech -- from Sweden

  Steve Kelman finds shifting influences, a domain-name dispute and some questionable marketing campaigns. Read More

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• Note to government: Start talking like everybody else!

  Steve Kelman takes issue with jargon that serves mainly to create artificial distinctions from the private sector. Read More

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• A civic tech summer fellow becomes a full-time fed

  Steve Kelman reports that Coding it Forward is turning temporary college-break postings into longer-term public service commitments. Read More

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• How contracting officers want to use the new micropurchase threshold

  Steve Kelman's recent talk with feds reinforced his view that a $10,000 micropurchase limit opens up vast new acquisition possibilities. Read More

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• 6 observations on the state of China

  Steve Kelman shares what he learned on a recent 10-day visit. Read More

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• A government contractor crosses over to USDS

  Steve Kelman reports on what prompted Kelly O'Connor to take an rather unusual career turn. Read More

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• Steve's peeve about a common contracting phrase

  When it comes to discussion of government contracts, Steve Kelman contends that "the L word" comes up far too often. Read More

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