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.In hindsight, this shouldn'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 have to be poorly run? Who says we can't devise better systems and/or mechanisms (e.g., market-based mechanisms) for attracting and retaining great people in government?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: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/habsburg-empi...