A key to government performance

[Commentary] When it comes to government performance and technology, Moore's Law has been tied down by Gordian knots. For too long, habit has outpaced innovation; government has settled for not just old over new but also complacency over efficiency. President Barack Obama took office with a commitment to break those knots, relying on innovation to make government perform better for the American people. In information technology specifically, one of the most promising areas is cloud computing, which uses the power of distributed, smartly integrated computers to accomplish complex tasks efficiently. Working together — across agencies, between branches of government, and through best-practice collaborations with the private sector — we can shape a federal government that is more accountable, more collaborative, and more consistent in its delivery of services. Across the government, the challenges grow tougher each day. It is time for the government to join the 21st century and be more agile and adaptive, more responsive and responsible.