Inside the Obama Tech Surge as It Hacks the Pentagon and VA
The federal government hires a team of young, talented, motivated engineers and managers, puts them in charge of failed software projects, gives them the resources and authority they require to turns things around, and -- surprise! -- it turns out they do a GREAT job.<p>In hindsight, this shouldn&#x27;t be too surprising.  What might be surprising is that the same logic should apply to ALL government functions, not just software development.  Who says government projects and agencies <i>have to be</i> poorly run? Who says we can&#x27;t devise better systems and&#x2F;or mechanisms (e.g., market-based mechanisms) for attracting and retaining great people in government?<p>Throughout history, there are examples of government bureaucracies that have been reasonably well run, in some cases for centuries.  The Habsburg empire, in particular, comes to mind: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.independent.co.uk&#x2F;news&#x2F;world&#x2F;europe&#x2F;habsburg-empire-territories-europe-have-higher-trust-in-justice-systems-a6893946.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.independent.co.uk&#x2F;news&#x2F;world&#x2F;europe&#x2F;habsburg-empi...</a>