How can governments and technologists work together to build public services that are efficient, equitable, and trustworthy? Why is the U.S. government so far behind in delivering efficient, equitable public services? Despite record public spending, Americans often face broken infrastructure, inaccessible programs, endless paperwork, and systems that collapse under stress. These failures don't stem from the limits of technology. Rather, they reflect outdated systems, rigid processes, and misaligned incentives that block meaningful modernization. For the public, these deep structural issues ultimately show up as bad service delivery: slow, confusing, and fragile systems that make it hard for people to access what they need, when they need it most. This course traces how governments - working both internally and alongside the private sector - have tried to address these challenges, and why progress has often fallen short. We'll examine what's broken in today's service delivery, how technology has been used to modernize public services in governments at every level and abroad, and what has prevented better use of tech - from procurement barriers to risk-averse culture. Together, we'll consider what reforms and collaborations are needed to deliver modern, human-centered services and where technologists can have the greatest impact today, whether inside government, startups, or non-profits. Through case studies, guest speakers, and hands-on projects, students will develop tools to diagnose public service challenges, design solution pathways, and distinguish meaningful reform from techno-solutionism. Featuring recent initiatives from academia, the private sector, and local and federal government, the course invites students to explore careers in public-interest technology and imagine what a more effective, equitable government could look like in a time of rapid institutional and technological change.
2 units · Satisfactory/No Credit
How can governments and technologists work together to build public services that are efficient, equitable, and trustworthy? Why is the U.S. government so far behind in delivering efficient, equitable public services? Despite record public spending, Americans often face broken infrastructure, inaccessible programs, endless paperwork, and systems that collapse under stress. These failures don't stem from the limits of technology. Rather, they reflect outdated systems, rigid processes, and misaligned incentives that block meaningful modernization. For the public, these deep structural issues ultimately show up as bad service delivery: slow, confusing, and fragile systems that make it hard for people to access what they need, when they need it most. This course traces how governments - working both internally and alongside the private sector - have tried to address these challenges, and why progress has often fallen short. We'll examine what's broken in today's service delivery, how technology has been used to modernize public services in governments at every level and abroad, and what has prevented better use of tech - from procurement barriers to risk-averse culture. Together, we'll consider what reforms and collaborations are needed to deliver modern, human-centered services and where technologists can have the greatest impact today, whether inside government, startups, or non-profits. Through case studies, guest speakers, and hands-on projects, students will develop tools to diagnose public service challenges, design solution pathways, and distinguish meaningful reform from techno-solutionism. Featuring recent initiatives from academia, the private sector, and local and federal government, the course invites students to explore careers in public-interest technology and imagine what a more effective, equitable government could look like in a time of rapid institutional and technological change.