Circuit

The role of inspectors general has generated a lot of interest — on somebody’s part, anyway.FCW.com’s online poll posed the question: “Do you believe inspectors general stifle innovation in federal agencies?” We got flooded with responses — more than 1,000 votes, in fact, with more than 80 percent of them saying that IGs don’t stifle innovation at all. We’re looking at the hanging chads right now.Almost as interesting: More than 160 people voted “yes” or “somewhat.”Here are other poll results from FCW.com.When asked, “How would you rate your interest in congressional investigations of ?” 255 people responded.When asked, “Should agency CIOs control all IT spending within their agency?” 239 people responded. The Coast Guard said it will now be its own systems integrator for the Deepwater program. Should other agencies follow suit on modernization programs?What do you think? Take the poll at , or find the link on FCW.com Download at www.fcw.com/download. Grades: What works as a better motivator? Former (R-Calif.), a former college professor, used them to great effect back in the Y2K days, of course, and (R-Va.) has used grades to measure cybersecurity efforts.The Homeland Security Department now faces getting its own set of grades, compliments of professor… er, (D-Miss.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.According to his report card, DHS earned mostly average grades for 2006, and Thompson called for improved employee morale and strengthened procurement oversight and financial reporting.DHS received C grades for aviation security, emergency communications, information sharing, surface transportation security, scientific research and civil liberties.Emergency preparedness and procurement each earned a C-minus. “The department needs to significantly increase its procurement workforce and develop an in-house cadre of procurement professionals,” the report states.Domestic nuclear protection, chemical plant security, biological security and privacy rights earned B and B-minus grades. Efforts to establish better border security, protect critical infrastructure and achieve satisfactory management and administrative goals received incomplete marks.Regarding SBInet, the report states that the department needs adequate SBInet “procurement, management and oversight resources in place to prevent the same procurement and deployment problems experienced by the department with previous border security technology systems.”Find a link to the DHS report card on FCW.com’s Download at