Sat.Aug 03, 2024 - Fri.Aug 09, 2024

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Federal Agencies Experiment with Generative AI While Incorporating Safeguards

FedTech Magazine

The Air Force has embraced artificial intelligence for years, from using analytics to perform predictive maintenance on aircraft to testing and developing autonomous fighter jets. Now, with generative AI bursting onto the scene, it’s no wonder the Air Force is exploring ways to benefit from the emerging technology. The military service branch is piloting an AI-powered chatbot that allows Guardians, Airmen, civilian employees and contractors to experiment with generative AI.

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Does Political Decentralization Improve Urban Governance? Balancing Efficacy and Representation in Rajasthan’s Small Towns

The City Fix

“Hum faltu hai [in English, “We are useless”] …I don’t even know what the budget of the council is. Nobody tells me about the procurement process [or] the number of tenders that have gone public…I don’t have enough knowledge about.

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How One Library Marketer Transformed a Library Website: See the Stunning Before and After!

Super Library Marketing

Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library Some of Megan Bratton ’s favorite memories were made at the Forsyth County Public Library in Winston Salem, North Carolina. “I went to a new concept charter school in downtown Winston Salem that was housed in the basement of an office building,” explains Megan. “The school didn’t have many amenities, like a gym or library.

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Cloud Optimization Must Remain a Top Priority for State and Local Governments

State Tech Magazine

The cloud is a mainstay in the public sector. Most agencies have stood up some sort of cloud instance, whether it’s public, private or hybrid. Agencies at the local level are aggressively scaling their cloud footprint, as bids pertaining to cloud scaling were up by 39% in fiscal year 2023 among state and local governments. As agencies consider throwing more money at the cloud, they also need to make sure what they already have is working as powerfully, and as cost-effectively, as possible.

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A Guide For City Managers & CAOs to Achieve Operational Excellence

This guide addresses the unique operational challenges faced by smaller municipalities, such as limited resources, budget constraints, and diverse community needs. By leveraging digital tools, City Managers and Municipal Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) can streamline workflows, enhance communication, and improve service delivery. The guide covers identifying operational challenges, choosing the right software, and implementing digital solutions.

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The Navy and Coast Guard Face a Rising Tide of Issues in Shipbuilding

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

Rapidly growing maritime threats compel the Navy to deliver ships faster. And the Coast Guard needs to replace its outdated fleet to avoid gaps in its ability to carry out critical missions, like search and rescue. But both the Navy’s and Coast Guard.

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The key to accelerating AI development? Pragmatism plus imagination

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Leaders are treating generative AI as less of a curiosity and more an integral part of business. McKinsey research sheds light on who is using AI, how they’re using it, and the challenges that remain.

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How the NSA Ensures Technology Remains Accessible and Usable for All Employees

FedTech Magazine

There is strength in diversity; that’s one of the messages delivered in the 2023 National Intelligence Strategy, which provides strategic guidance to the U.S. intelligence community. Among the major goals listed in the document are recruiting, developing and retaining a talented and diverse workforce across the entirety of the IC. The guidance aligns with efforts already taking place at the National Security Agency, which recently touted its unprecedented hiring efforts in 2023.

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Q&A: New Orleans CIO Kimberly LaGrue Discusses Cyber Resilience

State Tech Magazine

Kimberly LaGrue is CIO of New Orleans and president of the Cities Today Institute North America Cities Leadership Forum on Digitalization. She began her IT career with New Orleans in telecommunications. Mayor Mitch Landrieu appointed her as acting CIO in 2017, and Mayor LaToya Cantrell made her appointment to CIO permanent in 2018. Shortly before Christmas in 2019, New Orleans suffered a significant ransomware attack, and LaGrue led the city’s recovery and subsequent IT modernization efforts.

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LLM to ROI: How to scale gen AI in retail

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Retailers continue to experiment with generative AI and are seeing that the technology holds great promise for reigniting growth—if they move quickly to seize the opportunity.

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AN OPEN LETTER TO ELECTED OFFICIALS

Barrett & Greene

Good day, Last week we were talking to an inquisitive person who is rising in the local public sector world. The conversation turned to performance management (one of our favorite topics) and the question was posed to us: “What do you think are the biggest impediments to more widespread use of that discipline? A few answers quickly sprang to our minds, including limited resources and difficulties hiring staff with the necessary skills.

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Empower Digital Government: Strategic Workbook for Modern Transformation

Digital transformation is reshaping government interactions, bringing agencies closer to the communities they serve. However, while many have adopted new digital tools, few have implemented comprehensive strategies to maximize their benefits. Our Strategic Workbook for Modern Government offers a step-by-step guide to developing a sustainable digital strategy.

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EPA Leads Government’s Shift to Softphones

FedTech Magazine

It’s been more than two years since workers returned to their offices at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency following the COVID-19 pandemic. But something’s different about office life now: The desk phones for the EPA’s roughly 20,000 employees sit largely unused. “The phones barely ring,” says Tiffany McNeill, director of the agency’s office of IT operations.

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Thinking Through Your Modernization Journey

GovLoop

Modernization can improve your agency’s service delivery, but while you upgrade your tech and processes, you can’t forget about security. As you make your services more accessible online for your constituents, unfortunately, it can also open the door to cyber criminals. That means you must implement security measures that protects sensitive data from unauthorized access.

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The loneliest job? How top CEOs manage dilemmas and vulnerability

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

This article consolidates insights from around 100 senior leaders on five common dilemmas that complicate their ability to lead in the face of competing priorities.

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What Went Wrong with the Launch of Thrift Savings Plan’s New Online System?

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

Just over two years ago, the Thrift Savings Plan launched a new online system meant to modernize and improve users’ access to their federal retirement savings. But almost immediately after the system launched, users reported widespread problems.

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7 Signs Your Local Government ERP Is Holding You Back: A Guide for Small Municipalities

Local governments and municipalities serving populations under 200,000 face distinctive challenges in delivering efficient and effective services to their communities. To overcome these challenges, many rely on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems tailored to their specific needs. Not all ERP systems are created equal, and some may hinder progress rather than support it.

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Securing Digital Infrastructure Helps Departments of Transportation Deliver Equitable Service

Government Technology Insider

Renewed investment and interest in transportation infrastructure has empowered state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to modernize not only roads and bridges, but digital infrastructure such as data and information systems. As transportation systems become more connected, the vast amount of information they possess can provide new levels of intelligence to enhance operations and constituent service.

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Los Angeles Identifies and Targets Critical Vulnerabilities with Splunk

State Tech Magazine

Cybersecurity leaders face a constant onslaught of attacks. So, it was fitting when Daniel Clark Lee, security operations center manager for the city of Los Angeles, flashed a quote from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War on screen during his presentation at the.conf24 Splunk user conference in Las Vegas: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

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Generative AI: How will it affect the future of work in Australia?

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Generative AI is already affecting the working world. But, with this technology’s continual, rapid evolution, what does the future of work look like? Two McKinsey experts give their opinions.

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Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Efforts Translate to Enhanced Community Impact 

NLC (National League of Cities)

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program funded by the Inflation Reduction Action (IRA) and administered by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided $5 billion in formula grants to requesting states, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) for regional municipal coordination, tribes and territories to develop and implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

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ASPA TIMES Magazine: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

PA TIMES Magazine is a publication of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), a not-for-profit corporation. This edition focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in public administration, including guest columns, insights for the field and interviews with city government DEI officers about their work at the local level.

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NHS software provider faces £6M fine after cyber attack exposes thousands of medical records

Open Access Government - Technology News

The NHS software provider Advanced Computer Software Group is facing a substantial fine of £6 million following a cyber attack in August 2022 The breach compromised the personal data of nearly 83,000 individuals, including sensitive medical records, prompting an investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). THe NHS cyber attack, August 2022 The attack carried out through a ransomware scheme, exploited a vulnerability in Advanced’s systems by accessing a customer accou

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National framework for AI assurance in Australian government: Guidance when building with AWS AI/ML solutions

AWS Public Sector Blog

As Australia moves forward with its National framework for the assurance of artificial intelligence in government , Amazon Web Services (AWS) is committed to helping our customers implement AI solutions that align with Australia’s AI Ethics Principles. Mechanisms to help businesses and organisations identify and managed risks for the design and implementation of AI solutions are being introduced globally, including a variety of international standards ( ISO 42001 , ISO 23894 , and NIST RMF ), le

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Managing uncertainty in the silicon carbide wafer market

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

To help navigate the complexities of the silicon carbide wafer market’s supply-and-demand outlook, an examination of multiple scenarios highlights the most significant drivers.

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There Are Options for Reforming Social Security, But Action is Needed Now

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

Generations of Americans have relied on Social Security as a key source of retirement income. But the entitlement program faces serious financial challenges that, if left unaddressed, could leave it unable to pay scheduled benefits in full starting.

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Key Strategies for Public Works Employees to Embrace Government Software

In a rapidly evolving landscape, the integration of digital software into Public Works teams has become imperative. This shift presents an opportunity to transcend traditional approaches, unlocking new levels of efficiency, cost savings, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This eBook offers comprehensive strategies to navigate this transformation.

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Good Cyber Hygiene Keeps State and Local Agencies a Step Ahead

State Tech Magazine

Cyber resilience is the capability of any organization to weather and recover from a cyberattack with the goal of minimum disruption to daily business. Government agencies often face funding challenges to obtaining a desirable level of cyber resilience, but all organizations may experience similar budget crunches. In fact, in a recent propriety research report, CDW concludes that cybersecurity challenges look very similar in the public and private sectors.

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The AWS approach to accelerating innovation and procurement with state agencies

AWS Public Sector Blog

Despite a common misconception about government, state agencies regularly innovate on behalf of their constituents. In this post, we share examples of innovation from New Mexico and North Carolina. We also provide tips for accelerating procurement and maintaining visibility over rapidly implemented workloads. In an earlier post, we highlighted how New Mexico delivered customer-obsessed human services programs powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

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Start spreading the news: New York City travel and tourism are back

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

The Big Apple’s travel and tourism sector has rebounded from its pandemic lull. But today’s New York City visitors are arriving with new agendas.

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How can UK Government become more effective?

Paul Cairney

This post summarises a new article by PoPP on the prospects of more effective government in the UK.

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A Guide For Everyone: Accessibility & Inclusivity Inspection Handbook

Dive into this comprehensive guide to inclusivity and accessibility! This handbook equips you with indispensable insights and practical strategies to ensure every space welcomes all. Whether you're an inspector, designer, or municipal employee, streamline compliance with regulations while fostering genuine inclusivity. From detailed checklists to case studies, we cover every aspect, empowering you to create environments that prioritize accessibility without compromising service.

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Agencies Turn to Next-Gen SIEM for Improved Cyber Visibility

FedTech Magazine

Agencies are increasingly turning to next-generation security information and event management systems because the success of their cyber workflows relies on holistic visibility of their IT environments. After identifying the critical data assets they must protect, agencies use next-gen SIEM to correlate that information with other data feeds to unearth potential threats and compromises.

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4 ways AWS can help states transform healthcare for incarcerated individuals

AWS Public Sector Blog

The cycle of recidivism in the US is a serious and costly problem. According to the Harvard Political Review , two out of three former prisoners are rearrested within three years of release , with more than half returning to jail. The American Action Forum calculates the total cost to society as a whopping $1.2 trillion. Why do so many former prisoners return to jail?

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Gen AI’s next inflection point: From employee experimentation to organizational transformation

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

As many employees adopt generative AI at work, companies struggle to follow suit. To capture value from current momentum, businesses must transform their processes, structures, and approach to talent.

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Scientists 3D print functional human blood vessels

Open Access Government - Technology News

Scientists at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering have made significant strides towards creating lab-grown human organs with functioning blood vessel networks Published in Advanced Materials, their research introduces a new method known as coaxial sacrificial writing in functional tissue (co-SWIFT), which enables the 3D printing of intricate vascular networks inside human cardiac tissue.

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The Ultimate Playground Inspection Handbook

Dive into the world of playground safety with this complimentary guide. It offers a detailed exploration of essential practices to ensure the utmost safety for children. Delve into inspection techniques, from assessing equipment conditions to evaluating surfacing materials. Gain insights into maintenance strategies to keep playgrounds in top-notch condition year-round.