David_Reed

307 karma · joined June 13, 2019

I write Dear Bureaucrat, the advice column for people who work in the public sector. www.DearBureaucrat.com

David_Reed··on Trapped Under the Salary Cap

GS-15 Dollar amount varies by locality. In DC it's $170,800

David_Reed··on Trapped Under the Salary Cap

Right, max pay grade for ordinary civil servants. But "senior executives" and some political appointees get more.

David_Reed··on Dear Bureaucrat, Should I get an MPA? (tldr: probably not)

I've gotten feedback that this installment of the column advises to do as I say, not as I did. But that's what learning from experience is about.

David_Reed··on Dear Bureaucrat, how can I work with agency’s useless computer system?

Yes, but by the time the system is implemented, the official whose pet project it was had moved on. The new official wants to channel resources to his own pet project, not making the old one work.

David_Reed··on Dear Bureaucrat, how can I work with agency’s useless computer system?

You're exactly right. Officials like to award contracts for new systems--it makes them look important, it gets the systems integrators to kiss up to them, and the failures won't become apparent until they've moved to their next job.

David_Reed··on Dear Bureaucrat, how can I work with agency’s useless computer system?

Thanks.

David_Reed··on Dear Bureaucrat, how can I work with agency’s useless computer system?

The question is whether the workflow the developers are being told to implement is what the workers actually need to do to get the work done. Also, will there be an ongoing mechanism to revise the software as the work requirements change? In most cases, the answer to both questions is no.

David_Reed··on Dear Bureaucrat, how can I work with agency’s useless computer system?

Thanks. I'll look at coda.io

David_Reed··on Dear Bureaucrat, my job wants me to lie

[Running sarcasm detector.] Thanks!

David_Reed··on Dear Bureaucrat, my job wants me to lie

Thanks. I'll post that column to Hacker News tomorrow.