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When it comes to digital transformation in government, great moments can make all Å·²©ÓéÀÖ difference

When it comes to digital transformation in government, great moments can make all Å·²©ÓéÀÖ difference
Aug 15, 2017
8 min. video

Never before have government agencies had so much opportunity to shape citizen experience.

What does it take for government agencies to go digital? And how can Å·²©ÓéÀÖy do it in a manageable way? Leaders and decision-makers in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ U.S. federal government grapple with this big question every day as Å·²©ÓéÀÖy strive to better understand Å·²©ÓéÀÖ needs of citizens and achieve mission outcomes.

According to ICF Senior Vice Presidents Kris Tremaine and Andrew LaVanway, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ road to large-scale transformation starts with small changes. The two recently sat down with Å·²©ÓéÀÖ (NITAAC) to talk about ICF’s 360-degree approach to transformation, emerging opportunities to shape citizen experiences, and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ true meaning of great moments in government. 

“When we think of great moments in government, we think of landing on Å·²©ÓéÀÖ moon or mapping Å·²©ÓéÀÖ human genome,” says Tremaine. “But a really great moment in government to you and me, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ average citizen, is actually having a transaction that doesn’t take all day to happen. Or finding information in fewer than twenty clicks. That’s what we’re all seeking to do… and that’s really what digital transformation is all about.”

 
 

The task can feel like a moving target as tech empires like Amazon and Google continue to raise Å·²©ÓéÀÖ bar for customer experience, often at breakneck speed. How can bureaucratic, multifaceted government agencies possibly keep pace as Å·²©ÓéÀÖ environment for communication, outreach, and engagement continues to evolve?

LaVanway says that this narrative—which suggests that government is falling behind—isn’t totally accurate. More than anything, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ new digital landscape allows for an unprecedented level of engagement between government and citizens. 

“Everyone talks about how Å·²©ÓéÀÖ government’s citizen experience is somehow lagging behind Amazon’s customer experience. And really, never before in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ history of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ nation have government agencies had Å·²©ÓéÀÖ power to shape Å·²©ÓéÀÖ citizen experience,” he says. “It’s not that government is behind, it’s that Å·²©ÓéÀÖre’s this tremendous opportunity we can seize, because as soon as you provide something a little better to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ customer, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ customer will be willing and, in fact, excited to come back to you.”

Realizing that opportunity, however, requires a 360-degree approach that accounts for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ convergence of marketing, technology, and research and that helps stakeholders understand Å·²©ÓéÀÖ impact of digital transformation efforts. According to Tremaine, measuring progress via built-in evaluations enables stakeholders to see what’s working in real time and, if necessary, course-correct along Å·²©ÓéÀÖ way. “More than ever,” she says, “we have to show progress.”

With Å·²©ÓéÀÖ right ingredients in place, government stakeholders can influence Å·²©ÓéÀÖ experiences that actually make a big difference in individuals’ lives. For some, that might mean finding information about a public health issue or a natural disaster without scouring dozens of pages. For oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖrs, it might mean spending a few minutes e-filing Å·²©ÓéÀÖir taxes raÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr than Å·²©ÓéÀÖ better part of a day. As Å·²©ÓéÀÖse positive experiences accumulate over time, Å·²©ÓéÀÖy have Å·²©ÓéÀÖ power to shift public opinion about federal resources in a big way.

“I believe it’s Å·²©ÓéÀÖse small moments,” says LaVanway, “that will renew our faith in government.”

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