In this episode, recorded live at the Civitas Networks for Health conference in DC, I sit down with Jennifer Pahlka, author of "Recoding America", to discuss how to improve implementation and impact of big new policy initiatives. The book and episode are essential reading and listening for anyone trying to make government – or any ambitious project - work for people.

We discuss: 

• The dangers of treating the bureaucracy – not citizens – as the client
• Closing the gap between intellectuals (policymakers) and mechanicals (implementers)
• What policymakers can learn from agile 
• Using data as a compass not a grade

Jen points out that a waterfall approach to policy implementation is a pledge not to learn:

“... When you see us trying to implement law and policy by always having information flow from the top to the bottom, and never letting it return back, that's the problem. There can be no software development involved in this at all. And we can still be in a waterfall. The reason waterfall is a metaphor is that water only flows one way.”

#healthcare #investments #housing #medicaid #health #socialdeterminantsofhealth #managedcare 

Relevant Links

Jennifer Pahlka’s book Recoding America

United States Digital Service

Code for America

Civitas Networks for Health 

Clay Shirky’s book, “Here Comes Everybody: the Power of Organizing without Organizations”

Clay Shirky’s book, “Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age”

About Our Guest

Jennifer Pahlka is the author of Recoding America, and a pioneer in making government work for people in the digital age. She founded Code for America in 2010 and led the organization for ten years. In 2013, she took a leave of absence to serve as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama and helped found the United States Digital Service. She served on the Defense Innovation Board, started by the late Ash Carter, under Presidents Obama and Trump. At the start of the pandemic, she also co-founded United States Digital Response, which helps government meet the needs of the public with volunteer tech support. She has received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and was named by Wired as one of the 25 people who has most shaped the past 25 years. Jennifer is a graduate of Yale University and lives in California with her husband, Tim O’Reilly.

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