The People Factor

Washington Post Q&A with Scott Gould

The Department of Veterans Affairs' plan to hire over 100,000 new employees is the focus of a conversation with W. Scott Gould in the Washington Post. Drawing on material from The People Factor, Gould said "At the end of the day, the ability to hire someone and do it well is an intensely personal management-supervisor-level decision. . . . How do you identify what those job requirements are? That's a skill that we have to give and raise up for a lot of our managers. We have a lot of middle-level managers who have to learn how to do this in a different way."

Read the full interview. 

Linda Bilmes quoted in McClatchy Newspapers

Federal work force to expand, but rules need overhaul

Bilmes, who co-authored the recently released book "The People Factor: Strengthening America by Investing in Public Service," is concerned about younger workers who've grown up hearing politicians mock the federal system.

Read the full article.

Scott Gould Confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs

On April 3, the U.S. Senate confirmed The People Factor coauthor W. Scott Gould to be deputy secretary of Veterans Affairs. Read more about the confirmation on WashingtonPost.com.

Linda Bilmes Discusses Stimulus Bill with National Journal

Check out the Linda Bilmes interview with National Journal on how the stimulus bill can trim some waste and avoid mismanagement: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/ii_20090205_8262.php

Scott Gould nominated to join Obama Administration

Scott Gould has been nominated to become the deputy secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Learn more about his nomination from the Washington Post: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/01/30/veterans_affairs_deputy_secret.html