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> I find #7 especially hollow I think there's some confusion here on what and how the USDS works. They embed into government organizations to improve services
by dan-0 6y ago
> I find #7 especially hollow
I think there's some confusion here on what and how the USDS works.
They embed into government organizations to improve services and systems, bringing expertise that doesn't normally exist in government, while not working directly for the organization they're embedded in.
USDS doesn't follow normal hiring practices either. They recruit directly for limited employment terms, max of 4 years. This helps offset the entrenched beaurocratic mindset that exists in a lot of USG organisations, and allows them to recruit current experts in a particular field.
From the Special Operations analogy this would be equivalent of the Military giving them direct hiring/recruitment ability from both the Armed Services and direct from civilian
#7 "Bring in experienced teams" isn't hollow, it's their core mission.
- ajcp 6y agoI think the confusion is not in what the USDS does, but rather who their Play Book is intended for. Is it prescriptive or descriptive? If it's the former (as I took it) then we're not talking about the USDS itself, but the USG. If it's the latter then I defer to you, but still don't think it solves the structural problems that makes the USDS relevant in the first place. Going back to our US Special Forces team, the US Army actually did (attempt)to solve for this by simplifying the pipeline with the 18X "X-Ray" Program.