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Posted on May 16th, 2011 by Michael Beckley
As Appian’s CTO, I strongly believe in the value of BPM software for improving how government agencies function. I believe just as strongly that federal agencies – and BPM vendors – have a responsibility to focus first on good policy. In my opinion, dubious logic, poor assumptions, fuzzy math, and inexperience with federal government business processes are causing some technology vendors to push agencies to put process before policy.
The drive to improve efficiency should always take place within a greater policy context. Ill-conceived technology modernization projects are sometimes the result of well-meaning attempts to trim budgets and find cost savings without due regard for policy.
Take the example of the improper payments. OMB estimates $125 billion in improper payments by the federal government in fiscal 2010. President Obama has set a public goal of cutting $50 billion from that figure by 2012. I know because I read about it in FedTech, Government Executive, Washington Technology (“the online authority for government contractors”) and pretty much every other federal technology news, blog, tweet, and web site.
