Pursuing IT and Digital Transformation at the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA)

Recently, Marcela Escobar-Alava, chief information officer and Betsy Beaumon, chief transformation officer from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) joined me on The Business of Government Hour to discuss the agency's ongoing transformation efforts, how they are working together to shape a new operating mode delivering innovative digital services to the public.

Thriving in the Unknown: Navigating Disruption and Uncertainty with Terence Mauri

In today's rapidly changing world, disruption is the norm rather than the exception. Leaders are increasingly confronted with the challenges and opportunities presented by disruption.

Weekly Roundup: October 14-18, 2024

Acquisition

Transforming the U.S Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

The IRS has a unique opportunity to envision and realize a future of tax administration that meets the evolving needs of taxpayers and the nation. The agency remains focused on improving service to taxpayers, offering them more in-person and online resources while pursuing the most effective way to ensure tax compliance

Weekly Roundup: October 7-11, 2024

Digital Dozen: Top Federal CIOs Lay Out FY2025 Priorities. What are government agencies’ top tech priorities for 2025? MeriTalk surveyed 12 CFO Act agency CIOs, dubbed the “Digital Dozen,” on their top technology priorities for fiscal year (FY) 2025.

Weekly Roundup: September 30-October 4, 2024

IRS Doubles Number of States Using Direct File for 2025. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced this week that its Direct File tool will be available in 12 additional states for the 2025 tax season, making the free e-filing service available in a total of 24 states.

Weekly Roundup: September 23-27 2024

DoD Cutting Improper Payments; Legacy IT Financial Systems Still Need Work. The Department of Defense (DoD) is making progress in reducing costs related to improper payments through its Advana centralized data and analytics platform, but the agency continues to struggle with some of its financial IT systems.

Weekly Roundup: September 16-20, 2024

Agency IT Grades Soar on Latest FITARA Scorecard. Federal agency grades were up sharply and nearly across the board on the latest edition of the FITARA Scorecard issued today by Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., who is ranking member of the House Cybersecurity, IT, and Government Innovation Subcommittee and who compiles the scorecard with substantial input from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Weekly Roundup: September 9-13, 2024

O’Malley makes last ditch effort to secure Biden’s budget proposal for Social Security. The commissioner said that without a budget anomaly to boost funding at the agency, the Social Security Administration would need to institute a hiring freeze and would see its workforce fall to a 50-year low.

From the Gridiron to Government: How Tom Brady's Leadership Insights Can Transform Government Teams

NFL great Tom Brady and Nitin Nohria of the Harvard Business School have collaborated on a compelling and timely article, for the September-October 2024 Harvard Business Review, which focuses on the often-overlooked aspect of leadership: the importance of teamwork and how great leaders bring out the best in their teams.

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Leadership Fellow & Host, The Business of Government Hour
IBM Center for The Business of Government
600 14th Street, NW Second Floor
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Michael has two decades of experience with both the private and public sectors encompassing strategic planning, business process redesign, strategic communications and marketing, performance management, change management, executive and team coaching, and risk-financing.

Michael leads the IBM Center for The Business of Government's leadership research. As the Center’s Leadership Fellow, his work is at the nexus of the Center’s mission – connecting research to practice. My work at that the Center complements frontline experience of actual government executives with practical insights from thought leaders who produce Center reports – merging real-world experience with practical scholarship. The purpose is not to offer definitive solutions to the many management challenges facing executives, but to provide a resource from which to draw practical, actionable recommendations on how best to confront such issues. Michael also hosts and produces the IBM Center’s The Business of Government Hour. He has interviewed and profiled hundreds of senior government executives from all levels of government as well as recognized thought leaders focusing on a range of public management issues and trends. Over the last four years, Michael has expanded both the show’s format and reach – now broadcasting informational and educational conversations with dedicated public servants on two radio stations five times a week and anywhere at anytime over the web and at iTunes. Michael is also the managing editor of The Business of Government magazine, with a targeted audience of close to 14,000 government and non-government professionals. Additionally, he manages the Center’s bi-annual proposal review process that awards stipends to independent, third party researchers tackling a wide range of public management issues.

Prior to joining the Center, Michael worked as a senior managing consultant with IBM GBS (Global Business Services) and as a principle consultant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Washington Consulting Practice (WCP). He led projects in the private and federal civilian sectors including the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, FEMA, and the Veterans Health Administration. Before entering consulting, he worked in the private sector as product development manager at a New York City based risk financing firm.

Since 2003, Mr. Keegan has been a reviewer for Association of Government Accountant’s Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR)© program, keeping abreast of the most recent developments in authoritative standards affecting federal accounting, financial reporting and performance measurement. He is also a member of APPAM, the NYU Alumni Association, and the Data Center & Cloud Talent, USA. He holds masters in public administration and management from New York University and was the founder of its DC alumni group as well as previous treasurer of the NYU graduate school’s alumni board.