The World of Technology in Government

Helping agencies meet their technology needs is just one part of Adam Neufeld's job at the General Services Administration. He also is helping GSA expand the government's capacity to use technology to solve problems through such initiatives as 18F and the Technology Transformation Service.

"GSA aims to help agencies with their technology needs, whatever they may be. Each agency has vastly different circumstances—ranging from where they need assistance, to how they need assistance, to what types of assistance they need." Some agencies need help in procuring common goods and services or modernizing their technology, says Neufeld. "Our idea is to recognize what agencies need and to meet them where they are. So, for example, we're experimenting more with partnering with the private sector to offer platforms. Login.gov and Cloud.gov are two efforts to combine GSA's technical expertise and our procurement expertise to meet government needs. Whatever the need, GSA should be a central place that an agency can go to for help."

For Neufeld, the challenge is to get the most value out of technology across the board and to get agencies to understand that implementing technology into the everyday fabric of the workplace takes time. "It is incumbent on agencies to help their workforce with this, to recognize that you just can't throw a technology out there and expect everyone to be fine with it," he explains. "Sometimes you have to hold people's hand and make it safe for them. This is just part of working in an organization today."

This issue also examines toxic workplaces and the best practices surrounding how to successfully navigate through these environments, the lack of trust after data breaches, and the preliminary results of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.

I hope you enjoy this issue and find useful information to help you manage your workplace.