Automation to Reduce the IT Talent Gap in the Public Sector

Bridging the IT talent gap with smart automation.

Analyst Perspective

Build your federal organization's automation proficiency.

As federal departments and agencies grapple with the widening IT talent gap, the spotlight increasingly falls on automation as a strategic lever for organizational change. This issue is not merely about streamlining operations; it is about reshaping how public sector organizations function in an increasingly digital landscape.

This report reviews a range of data points, case studies, and other resources to offer a multifaceted view of the hurdles and opportunities that federal institutions encounter on their path to automation. Rather than merely cataloging these challenges, the report delves deep into their root causes, offering a critical evaluation of conventional wisdom and prevailing strategies.

Regardless of where your department or agency stands in its automation journey, the findings here offer valuable lessons. The accompanying Automation Maturity Assessment Framework is designed to translate these insights into actionable strategies. It aids in self-assessment, helping organizations identify where they fall short and what steps they can take to close those gaps. The aim is to navigate the complexities of automation in a way that serves the broader mission of efficient, effective, and citizen-oriented services.

Paul Chernousov
Research Director, Industry
Info-Tech Research Group

Executive Summary

Your Challenge

IT leaders in the public sector face challenges in recruiting and retaining top IT talent due to several factors, including competitive private sector salaries and the rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Public sector IT leaders must:

• Understand the full implications of the IT talent gap on their operations and service delivery.
• Identify the most viable and impactful automation technologies for their specific contexts.
• Effectively communicate the benefits of automation to stakeholders and gain their buy-in for the implementation of automation technologies.

Common Obstacles

The road to embracing automation within public sector organizations is far from smooth and impeded by a host of factors such as:

Financial constraints that make initial investment daunting.
Misconceptions or apprehensions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies.
Unclear picture of the benefits that automation can offer.
Concerns about workforce displacement.
Workforce resource limitations that hinder both the rollout and sustained management of automation systems.

Solution

Conduct an in-depth initial assessment of your automation potential, employing our Automation Maturity Assessment Framework to estimate your maturity levels and link them to existing skill sets within your organization.

Transition from planning to action through a structured process that includes prioritization and strategic planning, followed by a rigorously tested implementation and scalability phase.

Establish a robust framework for ongoing monitoring and evaluation processes, incorporating real-time key performance indicator (KPI) tracking, compliance audits, and feedback loops to ensure sustainable and compliant automation initiatives.

Info-Tech Insight

Neglecting to assess your organization's automation proficiency could stall your efforts to bridge the IT talent gap, hindering progress toward a more efficient, citizen-oriented, and digitally adept public sector.

Your challenge

This research is designed to help organizations that are looking to:

• Strategically channel both human and financial resources to accelerate the implementation of impactful automation projects.
• Leverage automation to streamline operations, leading to improved efficiency and better citizen services.
• Use automation as a force multiplier to mitigate the impact of talent shortages in specialized IT roles within the public sector.
• Foster an environment that encourages cross-departmental and public–private partnerships for sharing knowledge and best practices in automation.
• Bolster existing cybersecurity frameworks specifically tailored to meet the unique challenges posed by automation initiatives.

Common obstacles

These barriers make automation goals challenging for many organizations.

• A lack of in-house expertise in emerging technologies can slow down or even derail automation projects, requiring additional investment in training or outside consultation.
• The integration of automation technologies can create new vulnerabilities, adding complexity to the organization's cybersecurity posture.
• Limited financial resources can hinder the scope and pace of automation initiatives, affecting both implementation and maintenance.
• Internal opposition to new technology, often stemming from fear of job loss or disruption to established workflows, can stymie automation efforts.
• Disparities in resource allocation and priority setting between departments can lead to inconsistent approaches to automation, making organization-wide implementation difficult.