Executive Insights & Innovation
Team Building & Staffing
IT Strategy
Digital Business
Enterprise Agility
Enterprise Applications
Information Management
Operating Systems
Productivity/Collaboration Apps
Social
Attacks & Breaches
Application Security
Cloud Security
Endpoint Security
Mobile Security
Perimeter Security
Risk Management
Operations Security
Analytics
Vulnerabilities & Threats
Infrastructure as a Service
Platform as a Service
Software as a Service
Cloud Storage
Mobile Applications
Mobile Devices
Mobile Business
Big Data Analytics
Hardware/Architectures
Software Platforms
Networking
Storage
Wireless Infrastructure
Data Center
Unified Communications
Cloud Infrastructure
Applications
Careers
PCs and Servers
Big Data/Analytics
Cloud Computing
Cybersecurity
Enterprise Architecture
Leadership
Mobile & Wireless
Open Government
Electronic Health Records
Mobile & Wireless
Analytics
Policy & Regulation
Leadership
Security & Privacy
Clinical Systems
Patient Tools
Comments
Open Source Lessons For Feds
Newest First  |  Oldest First  |  Threaded View
WKash
50%
50%
WKash,
 User Rank: Author
5/16/2014 | 3:22:44 PM
Re: Open Source Enthusiasts
Gary EL - Sad but true.  Working for the government was always pretty much a commitment to a marathon; the promise at the end was a pretty sweet pension prize --  for those wiling to stick it out. But for newcomers, a government job (if they're lucky) is a chance to add some potentially attractive credentials to your resume, but longer term, it's hard not to see a punishing road ahead on which to build a career. Thank goodness we still have so many willing to serve their country inspite of that.   
Gary_EL
50%
50%
Gary_EL,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/16/2014 | 2:08:21 PM
Re: Open Source Enthusiasts
SachinEE, they really can't, because money talks, and Congress holds the purse strings.I make part of my living working for a government contractor, and the Feds can't even live uop to their existing agreements, because they just don't have the money. As for job security, maybe for the older employees, but it's completely gone for new hires.
SachinEE
50%
50%
SachinEE,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/16/2014 | 2:02:18 PM
Re: Open Source Enthusiasts
With the growth of modern technology and the immense opportunities that present day entrepreneurship has to offer, it was easy to see that it was only a matter of time before all the best talents started drifting towards private enterprises rather than work for the government. Even the incentives that used to draw talent to government jobs, such as job security, no longer seem to hold any power and the government must start thinking of ways to encourage free enterprise within their institutions if they hope to put a halt to this trend.
WKash
50%
50%
WKash,
 User Rank: Author
5/16/2014 | 9:57:38 AM
Re: Open Source Enthusiasts
Gary_EL, one challenge I see as well, is that open source projects rely to a certain extent on the willingness of participants to go the extra mile to work together and contribute.  But that kind of spirit (like capital) tends to move to where it's welcome, and government has become a decidely less welcome place to work.

 
Gary_EL
50%
50%
Gary_EL,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/15/2014 | 10:33:17 PM
Re: Open Source Enthusiasts
I agree. Austerity is starting to bite so deeply that federal agencies are being forced to eat their seed corn. It will be increasingly difficult for them to attract the kind of talent needed to implement these open source lessons. They will be forced to use off-the-shelf products and to be increasingly dependent on outside consultants
WKash
50%
50%
WKash,
 User Rank: Author
5/15/2014 | 4:47:12 PM
Open Source Enthusiasts
The outlook for attracting the next generation of talent might not look very promising for the federal government these days, given federal budget cuts and a host of other reasons.  But it is encouraging to the see energy, creativity and passion reflected in the four individuals who discussed this topic at FOSE this week: @Erie Meyer; @BenBalter; @matthewburton; @victorzapanta.


Register for InformationWeek Newsletters
White Papers
Current Issue
InformationWeek Tech Digest, Dec. 9, 2014
Apps will make or break the tablet as a work device, but don't shortchange critical factors related to hardware, security, peripherals, and integration.
Download This Issue!
Subscribe Now!
Video
Slideshows
Twitter Feed
InformationWeek Radio
Archived InformationWeek Radio
InformationWeek Live for the Week of February 22, 2015
Sponsored Live Streaming Video
Everything You've Been Told About Mobility Is Wrong
Attend this video symposium with Sean Wisdom, Global Director of Mobility Solutions, and learn about how you can harness powerful new products to mobilize your business potential.