Weekly Round-up: November 19, 2010

Gadi Ben-Yehuda

• Slate's Michael Agger asks the question "How should we use data to improve our lives?"  An important question for those of us clamoring for more data.
• Mobile apps are paving the way for city services (har har har) reports the Wall Street Journal.  Interesting to see that services can be built on data and not always the other way around.
• Along those lines, Alex Howard profiles Brightscope, a company that's turning a profit by using government data to help people understand their 401(k)s.
• Finally, have you ever wondered what, exactly, the IBM Center for the Business of Government does?  Wonder no longer!  This video sums us up in about two-and-a-half minutes.

Dan Chenok

• VA social media advanced in new performance report
• Critical Administration attention to privacy in an online world
• A new profession created by massive government data flows:  "data curator"
• NARA clarifies records requirements for social media

Business of Government Radio Show: Peter Appel

The Business of Government Hour features a conversation about management with a government executive who is changing the way government does business. The executives discuss their careers and the management challenges facing their organizations. Past government executives include Administrators, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Information Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Commissioners, Controllers, Directors, and Undersecretaries.

Peter H. Appel was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) on April 29, 2009. Since joining RITA, Appel has worked with Secretary Ray LaHood to advance key U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) initiatives by leveraging effective research and cross-modal coordination.

Each week, The Business of Government Hour interviews government executive who are changing the way government does business. The show airs four times a week on two radio stations in the DC Metro Area. If you can't wait, though, we also put it online. You can also search our audio archives for your favorite interview.