What Obama Is Learning from Facebook, Google and Ideo | Epicenter | Wired.com

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What Obama Is Learning from Facebook, Google and Ideo

When Barack Obama hired John Berry to head his Office of Personnel Management earlier this year, the president did not mince words.

“John, we’ve got to make it cool again,” Obama said to his new hire.

Many of the nation’s brightest graduates are snapped up by tech startups claiming to offer not only high compensation but the feeling of being part of something exciting — not to mention such perks as meals by gourmet chefs, exercise and laundry facilities, haircuts, massages and other amenities designed to smooth the transition from college to adulthood while instilling a sense of loyalty.

The president’s mandate to the director: Bring that approach to the federal government, the largest and arguably most bureaucratic employer in the country, with nine million people on its payroll if you count retirees and dependents. The government has much to learn from Silicon Valley innovators about how to attract young, competent employees. As things stand now, much of the federal workforce is nearing retirement age, and is unfamiliar with the latest popular communication techniques — many of which they’re prohibited from accessing on their computers.

“We don’t currently use any of the technology solutions that are out there well,” explained Director Berry in an exclusive interview with Wired.com. “Facebook, YouTube and Twitter — the modern methods of connectivity — we don’t take advantage of at all. Essentially, we’re missing a whole generation.”

To learn how cutting-edge firms hire, facilitate communication between, and retain employees, Director Berry recently met with Facebook, Google and design firm Ideo on a recent trip to California, also touring each facility to see how they’re laid out in the hope of replicating some of that magic in a federal setting. He plans to attend such meetings ...

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http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/08/what-the-obama-administration-is-learning-from-facebook-google-and-ideo/#

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