2025 Top 10 Trends and Priorities for Government - Federal & Defense

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01

Drive accountability for the delivery of value

The Challenge

Bridge the IT value gap.

Without a unified framework to link IT investments to value delivery across departments, efforts become fragmented, resources are used inefficiently, and it's hard to measure the impact of IT initiatives on government operations, programs, and services.

Why It Matters

Unlock strategic success.

Establish clear policies and governance practices to enhance decision-making and create more impactful outcomes by aligning IT investments with strategic objectives. This optimizes resource allocation, ensuring prioritized projects deliver the highest value. Additionally, it fosters accountability and transparency, making it easier to track progress and measure the success of IT initiatives.

The Solution

Build a value-driven framework

Implement a balanced value framework that connects organizational goals with the IT investment process. This ensures that every IT initiative is aligned with enterprise goals and delivers measurable value.

Establish comprehensive policies and directives

Develop and regularly update policies that outline the criteria for IT investments, ensuring they align with strategic objectives and deliver expected value. These policies provide a clear roadmap for decision-makers.

02

Build an agile and high-performing IT workforce

The Challenge

Navigate the talent transformation.

Systemically developing capabilities for public services to keep up with the rapidly evolving technological landscape is necessary to address the global shortage of qualified IT personnel and mitigate the impact of an aging workforce and the upcoming enrollment cliff. However, equipping the workforce with the necessary technology and skills for effective services is challenging in unionized government departments.

Why It Matters

Empower the future.

Developing an agile and high-performing IT workforce is crucial for the public sector to stay ahead in the fast-evolving tech landscape. It ensures that the workforce can adapt to new technologies and deliver innovative solutions. Moreover, it enhances overall productivity and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

The Solution

Implement structured learning and development

Use structured and facilitated learning programs to enable leaders and practitioners to adapt to the exponential rate of change in technology. This includes continuous learning on technical topics such as cybersecurity, AI, machine learning (ML), and quantum computing, as well as embracing new ways of working and thinking about delivering technology.

Build integrated teams and automation

Use integrated IT work management tools and DevOps-inspired software development lifecycle (SDLC) automation tools to streamline processes and enhance collaboration. This creates free-standing, self-organizing teams that cross business, delivery, and operations.

03

Continuously modernize apps and infrastructure

The Challenge

Rise to meet the modernization imperative.

Systematically modernizing technology portfolios is essential to keep up with the rapid pace of technological advancements. However, overcoming legacy infrastructure, outdated processes, and resistance to change is challenging. A strategic approach is necessary to ensure that modernization efforts are effective and sustainable.

Why It Matters

Drive digital excellence.

Continuously modernizing apps and infrastructure is crucial for delivering exceptional digital experiences. It enhances efficiency by streamlining management and reducing the burden of legacy systems. Additionally, it enables agility, helping organizations meet evolving customer expectations and stay competitive.

The Solution

Adopt a modernization framework

Implement a strategic framework that guides modernization efforts. This includes understanding business goals, aligning IT goals, and investing in scalable, flexible infrastructure such as cloud services, automation, and AI technologies.

Foster continuous learning and adaptation

Upskill IT staff to stay updated on emerging technologies, and encourage innovation to keep the technology portfolio relevant and forward looking.

04

Differentiate with the power of data

The Challenge

Face the data dilemma.

Harnessing the power of data to enhance policy making, improve project and service delivery, and reduce operational costs is essential. However, effectively integrating and analyzing vast amounts of data from diverse sources remains a significant challenge.

Why It Matters

Gain a data-driven strategic advantage.

Leveraging data enhances policy making with evidence-based insights, improves project and service delivery by optimizing processes, and reduces operational costs through accurate forecasting and resource allocation.

The Solution

Build a strategy to integrate data

Implement a strategic framework for data integration that ensures data from various sources is consolidated and accessible. This involves investing in data management tools and technologies that facilitate seamless data flow and real-time analytics.

Continuously improve data quality

Establish robust data governance practices to continuously monitor and improve data quality. This includes setting standards for data accuracy, completeness, and consistency and implementing processes for regular data cleansing and validation.

05

Accelerate digital transformation

The Challenge

Navigate the complexity of digital transformation.

Integrating AI and other advanced technologies into existing legacy systems and processes for operations and service delivery is challenging and requires a strategic approach to remain competitive in today's fast-paced technological landscape.

Why It Matters

Harness the power of digital innovation.

Robust digital services powered by AI and other leading-edge technologies enhance customer experiences and drive operational efficiency. Additionally, they foster innovation, enabling organizations to stay ahead of the competition and meet evolving customer expectations.

The Solution

Create a strategy for technology innovation

Develop a strategic plan for integrating AI and other advanced technologies into existing systems. This includes identifying key areas for improvement, investing in the right tools, and ensuring seamless implementation.

Foster continuous innovation and adaptation

Create a culture of continuous innovation and adaptation, encouraging teams to stay updated on emerging technologies and explore new ways to enhance digital services.

06

Embrace the digital delivery umbrella

The Challenge

Overcome legacy processes.

Modernizing policies, directives, and guidance to embed product, Agile, and DevOps practices across departments is essential. However, it is important to overcome legacy processes and resistance to change and ensure seamless integration.

Why It Matters

Unify excellence.

Embedding product, Agile, and DevOps practices in a sustainable, integrated delivery model enhances efficiency and collaboration across departments. It drives innovation by enabling faster and more flexible responses to changing needs. Additionally, it ensures that digital services are delivered consistently and effectively, meeting the high expectations of stakeholders.

The Solution

Overhaul your policies

Conduct a comprehensive review and update of existing policies to align with modern product, Agile, and DevOps practices. Engage stakeholders from various departments to ensure inclusivity and address unique needs.

Encourage cross-departmental collaboration

Form cross-departmental teams to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. Implement regular workshops and training sessions to build a shared understanding and commitment to the new delivery model.

07

Automate government services

The Challenge

Streamline public services.

The integration of automation technologies into existing systems and processes is challenging and requires a strategic approach to ensure seamless implementation and adoption across various government departments. Enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of civil services is critical but faces resistance from legacy thinking in unionized environments.

Why It Matters

Improve efficiency and experience.

Automating government services significantly reduces manual processing times and optimizes resource allocation, leading to cost savings and improved service delivery. It enhances the accessibility and responsiveness of public services by providing personalized and efficient solutions to constituents. Additionally, it fosters innovation and enables the civil service to meet the evolving needs of the public.

The Solution

Implement business process automation

Leverage a comprehensive playbook for business process automation that outlines best practices, tools, and methodologies. This playbook will serve as a guide for implementing automation initiatives across various departments, ensuring consistency and effectiveness.

Adopt AI solutions

Focus on developing and implementing AI solutions that enhance public service delivery, streamline processes, and improve decision-making.

08

Foster innovation and collaboration

The Challenge

Break down silos that hinder innovation and collaboration.

Building a unified community across departments, other governments, and external partners is essential for fostering innovation and collaboration. However, overcoming organizational silos, differing priorities, and resistance to change is difficult.

Why It Matters

Strengthen relationships and share success.

Fostering innovation and collaboration enhances the ability to create new insights and solutions for the challenges facing US IT leaders. It drives efficiency by leveraging diverse perspectives and expertise, leading to more effective problem solving. Additionally, it strengthens relationships and builds a culture of continuous improvement and shared success.

The Solution

Strategically build community

Engage stakeholders from various departments, other governments, and external partners to ensure inclusivity and alignment with common objectives, building a unified community that includes clear goals, roles, and responsibilities.

Adopt new delivery models

Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing to implement new practices, ensuring all parties are aligned and working toward common goals. Regular workshops and training sessions can help build a shared understanding and commitment to the new delivery model.

09

Strengthen cybersecurity to combat new threats

The Challenge

Address evolving cyber threats.

Strengthening cybersecurity to counter increasingly sophisticated threats from individuals and state actors is essential, but staying ahead of evolving threats requires a strategic approach to ensure robust and adaptive security measures.

Why It Matters

Secure the future.

Enhancing cybersecurity is crucial to protect sensitive data and maintain the integrity of government operations. It mitigates the risks posed by advanced threats, ensuring the continuity of services and safeguarding public trust. Additionally, it prepares the organizations for future challenges, including those introduced by quantum computing.

The Solution

Implement advanced threat detection and response

Implement advanced threat detection and response systems that leverage AI and ML to identify and mitigate sophisticated cyber threats in real-time. This includes investing in technologies that can detect anomalies, predict potential attacks, and automate responses to minimize damage.

Prepare for post-quantum cryptography

Invest in post-quantum cryptography solutions by researching and adopting cryptographic algorithms that are resistant to quantum computing attacks, ensuring that sensitive data remains secure as quantum technologies evolve.

10

Transform IT procurement to accelerate delivery

The Challenge

Revolutionize procurement.

Transforming IT procurement to accelerate delivery is essential for ensuring access to the right technology and services at the right time. However, legacy government procurement policies focus too much on acquiring products and services and not enough on vendor management. Keeping up with technology changes requires a complete reinvention of current procurement policies and procedures.

Why It Matters

Empower efficiency.

Reduce delays and ensure timely access to necessary technologies and services by reinventing government procurement processes. This mitigates risks by implementing robust vendor management practices and ensures compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, it fosters innovation by enabling the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.

The Solution

Establish strategic vendor management

Ensure chosen vendors meet current and future needs, enhancing operational efficiency and maintaining security standards by completing a thorough analysis of the vendor landscape, risk assessment, and compliance checks.

Adopt agile procurement processes

Adopt agile contract management practices to identify and reduce risks associated with vendor contracts, ensuring that procurement processes are efficient and responsive. This allows for flexibility and rapid adaptation to changing needs.

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