‘Media Snacking’ Contributing to Political Discourse
February 1, 2011
In a recent GovLoop blog post, government communications consultant Aldo Bello shared some of the perils of “media snacking” on short bursts of content that often lack depth or context. Could this be contributing to a lack of civility in political discourse? He wrote, “…media snacking … I believe, forces one to sample, and … often implies that deeper understanding is out of the question. But I’ve observed an even more disturbing trend, and that is towards the balkanization of information … Increasingly, I hear people talk about the content that they access in a way that is different from the recent past: favoring ... Read moreBenchmark Set for Social Media in Government
January 28, 2011
January 14, 2011 – Market Connections Research Manager John Kagia discusses the 2010 Federal Community Social Media Study on Federal News Radio’s Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris. Listen to the interview The 2010 study explores how social media can enhance the value of communication between the government and industry. For more on government usage of social media, stay tuned for the release of the 3rd Annual Federal Media & Marketing Study in March 2011, which looks at media usage of more than 2,000 defense and civilian agency decision makers–including publication and website readership, TV viewership, radio listenership, and use of alternative, social, and mobile media. Read moreLeveraging Emerging Government Trends in 2011
January 18, 2011
As we delve into a new year, leading contractors often review the emerging topics and trends in government and consider if and where they have sweet spots, so to speak, they could leverage to offer customers more value. Presenters at the ACT-IAC Executive Leadership Conference, held in late October, covered four such areas of focus for the government in the coming year: Health IT – IT opportunities are plentiful, but contractors should be highly strategic and focused in this sometimes complicated market. (If you haven’t already, we encourage you to read our December eNewsletter article on needs assessment studies in healthcare IT.) Sustainability – Government is moving ... Read moreMarket Connections Celebrates 15 Years
January 14, 2011
Dear Readers, I am proud to report that the arrival of 2011 marks the 15th anniversary of Market Connections! The company has grown from incubation as a home-based business in the very early years to serving an extensive client base spanning government contractors and federal agencies, information technology firms, and associations. We serve over half of today’s top-20 government contractors and have conducted research nationally and around the world, in 21 countries and 16 different languages. Building strong client relationships is the cornerstone of our business, and we want to thank all the individuals and organizations who have trusted us to provide ... Read moreLocalized Research Critical to International Success
January 10, 2011
Many have heard the horror stories of companies running U.S-developed campaigns internationally without first localizing them to individual markets. A well-known consumer campaign example is when Pepsi”s “Come alive with the Pepsi Generation” translated into Chinese became “Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave.” Of course, before they develop tag lines and ads, companies expanding to new international markets need to have a thorough understanding of the relevant cultural differences and considerations. How will the products or services likely be received in different geographies? What is the local competitive landscape? Should the unique selling proposition be tweaked or changed in different ... Read moreJanuary Event: Understanding and Deploying Cloud Computing in Government
December 22, 2010
Understanding and Deploying Cloud Computing in Government This two-day, in-depth educational program for Government Executives, Managers, Program Managers, and Staff and Industry Partners provides the government and industry information on how to develop and successfully manage a Cloud Computing Federal Program. Registration includes full breakfast and lunch. Instructors: Melvin Greer: Senior Fellow and Chief Strategist, Cloud Computing, author of book on Cloud computing, university professor and industry thought leader contributing to Federal Cloud Computing Initiative Kevin Jackson: Engineering Fellow, Award winning Cloud Computing Blog, Army Cloud Course Details and registration Read moreScuttlebutt on the New IT Reform Plan
December 15, 2010
What’s the word on the street about the new 25-Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal Information Technology Management? What are you hearing about how will it affect government IT implementation during the 18-month reform period? More on this topic. Read moreU.S. CIO Says New Plan “will fundamentally change how the government buys and manages IT”
December 15, 2010
U.S. Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra said last week a new federal IT management plan will “fundamentally change how the government buys and manages IT.” The new 25-Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal Information Technology Management lays out steps and guidelines designed to increase transparency and deliver more IT results for less time and money. The report summary says, “Individually and together, the 25 actions detailed will move the government towards the future – more nimble, more cost effective, and more citizen-focused.” (p. 33) With federal IT projects frequently running over budget, behind schedule, or failing to deliver promised functionality, the report aims to lay out ways ... Read moreMarket Connections Releases Government Customer Service Study Results
December 2, 2010
Today Market Connections releases the findings of a new study on government Customer Service, which reveals how government professionals rate their agencies’ customer service performance, their perceived challenges and gaps between service priorities and performance and looks at how agencies are using new technology to deliver customer service. In partnership with the Digital Government Institute (DGI), Market Connections collected 130 responses in November 2010 from a mix of customer service professionals working in federal, state and local governments. Market Connections’ President and CEO Lisa Dezzutti will present the findings this morning during DGI’s annual Government Customer Service Conference and Expo at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. Respondents ... Read moreNew Study: Government Customer Service
December 1, 2010
Stay tuned! Tomorrow morning, December 2, Market Connections will release the findings of a new study on government customer service, which reveals how government professionals rate their agencies’ customer service performance, their perceived challenges and gaps between service priorities and performance. The study also looks at how agencies are using new technology such as social media and mobile to deliver customer service. Market Connections’ President and CEO Lisa Dezzutti will present the findings on Thursday, December 2 at Digital Government Institute’s annual Government Customer Service Conference and Expo at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. For more information or to request a copy of the executive summary, contact Mari Canizales Coach. ... Read more