Seven Drivers Transforming Government

In 2018, the IBM Center for The Business of Government marks its twentieth year of connecting research to practice in helping to improve government. The IBM Center continues to execute on its ultimate mission: to assist public sector executives and managers in addressing real world problems with practical ideas and original thinking to improve government. The Center supports leading researchers to identify trends, new ideas, and best practices—crafting actionable approaches that support government decision-makers in addressing mission delivery and management challenges, through strategies and actions that promote efficiency and effectiveness.

Based on our recent research and perspectives shared by current and former government leaders, this special report identifies seven drivers for transforming government in the years to come:

• Driver One: Insight – Using data, evidence and analytics to create insight that influences decision making, actions and results
• Driver Two: Agility – Adopting new ways for government to operate, using agile principles and putting user experiences and program results at the forefront
• Driver Three: Effectiveness – Applying enterprise approaches to achieve better outcomes, operational efficiency and a leaner government
• Driver Four: Risk – Mitigating risk, managing cybersecurity and building resiliency to meet the mission of government
• Driver Five: People – Cultivating people; reforming processes for hiring, developing, and retaining workers; and leveraging data and technologies to build the workforce of the future
• Driver Six: Engagement – Fostering a citizen-driven government through real-time, interactive feedback to engage, co-create, and co-produce services and programs
• Driver Seven: Digital – Optimizing new technology and infrastructure models, focusing on the user experience and incentivizing innovators to modernize how government does business