Citizen expectations, digital transformation, new missions and mandates, and budget constraints are just a few of the challenges that Government agencies face so, the need to strategically problem solve happens frequently. Developing effective solutions for the challenges agencies – from tax administration to transportation security to law enforcement – requires a thoughtful and structured approach. These challenges contain myriad independent issues, multiple stakeholders with unique needs and points of view, and (commonly) pre-conceived notions regarding solutions not grounded in fact.

Whether new technology calls on us to innovate in the digital space or stakeholders continue to demand improvements to outdated systems, there is an increasing need for Government innovation and a willingness to accept failure.

The Innovation Checkpoint at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, which reopened in 2021 is the only airport security checkpoint in the nation that tests new security technology in real time. This collaboration between the Transportation Security Administration and McCarran Airport is one of many examples of organizations implementing an Innovation Mindset to act and use innovative approaches to solve homeland security challenges.

Many government agencies are adapting their responses to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in particular, had to adapt to vetting passengers through checkpoints in a safe, effective way. Fast, practical innovation alongside the necessity for the creation of long-term solutions was critical for the agency as passenger volume increased steadily.

TSA faced a critical problem: ensuring the safety of airline passengers and Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) while prioritizing safety and security. The TSA Innovation Task Force issued a call for white papers on Innovation Demonstrations for Enterprise Advancement, focusing on solutions for safe-distance screening and reducing the spread of infectious diseases.

While some days, it seems impossible to focus on any threats other than the vulnerabilities and accompanying hardship of the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that senior Government leaders take a more strategic and long-term view of all potential threats over the next four to ten years. These are threats that we can only imagine, beyond today’s reach and capabilities, but nonetheless plausible from those who intend to do us harm or from potential threats that natural or man-made catastrophes can cause. Once senior leaders are aware of the threats, they must prioritize them and make choices about where to invest in preparation and prevention.

A great customer experience (CX) depends on efficient, compelling processes. Process improvement sounds simple enough – just identify a few bottlenecks or weak points, reroute processes, teach the new processes to your employees, and congratulate yourself on a job well done. Right?

Process improvement rarely goes this smoothly and they can be particularly difficult for the Federal Government because the size and complexities of the programs leads to processes that become firmly ingrained in day-to-day work and culture. To get it right, the Government must recognize their weak spots and develop a plan that integrates process improvement with their strategy and with organization change management techniques.

For many years, Governments have viewed data as a byproduct of activity with little value. This sentiment, however, is changing rapidly. Today, organizations are trying to get every little advantage they can get over another to achieve their goals, and in doing so, have taken advantage of what data has to offer.

The emerging fields of Customer Experience (CX) and behavioral science have steadily grown in popularity over the past few years. Leading organizations worldwide are adopting and implementing CX to achieve great success. However, highly impactful tactics that lie at the intersection of CX and behavioral science are being overlooked and underutilized. By using a behavioral science lens, organizations can amplify CX initiatives to multiple their already impressive results.

Throughout the day, every day, you experience multiple interactions. Whether it be picking up your morning coffee, going to your daily meeting, or something else, you are left with a feeling about a service, person, or organization that, over time, and through constant interaction creates a perception.

Arc Aspicio recently completed pro bono support to the Amara Legal Center to develop a brand for the Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking and design communication materials to educate Virginia legislators on human trafficking within the state.

Human Trafficking is an insidious practice – one that is very hard to crack down on. The complexities of human trafficking make it especially hard to stop. Though organized crime, drug trafficking, or other global illicit networks come in infinite iterations, human trafficking is even more nuanced due to its commodity – human beings. All humans – from your daughter or son, to your neighbor, to your teacher, are vulnerable to the pernicious cycle of human trafficking, and an understanding of this is both vital to solving the problem, while also making it extremely difficult to investigate, prosecute, and ultimately mitigate.

In November 2019, facilitators from Arc Aspicio’s Strategy Innovation Lab (SILab) led a dynamic conversation with a distinguished group of human trafficking professionals with experience in federal law enforcement, victim services, non-profit organizations, academia, the private sector, and included a survivor. I was part of a team of facilitators who provided ground rules and led a small group’s conversation with prepared questions. My background of twenty-eight years of Federal law enforcement has given me a breadth of experience attending and participating in human trafficking events across the United States and abroad, usually aimed at training personnel or presenting information about this crime. Seldom do they engage human trafficking experts across profession areas to share experiences and perspectives and strategize actionable solutions.

Human Trafficking is a global problem, the extent of which is not clearly understood and is difficult to measure. To tackle this issue, Arc Aspicio’s SILab hosted Innovative Ideas to Combat Human Trafficking – A Conversation in November 2019. The SILab is a knowledge hub that accelerates innovative and sustainable solutions through methods, tools, thought leadership, events, and other resources to help our people, partners, and clients solve complex problems. Nearly 30 professionals with experience combating human trafficking in law enforcement, victim services non-profits, academia, and the private sector and a survivor participated to offer strategic and actionable solutions for combating human trafficking during the event.

Human trafficking is a complex crime that requires the collective resources from law enforcement, industry, academia, and victim services providers in Government and the private sector to address. It is a national level problem but, unfortunately, it is often only addressed at the local level where it impacts communities.

Human trafficking, whether it be labor or sex trafficking, is a complex crime where victims may not even recognize they are victims. This makes it hard for law enforcement professionals to identify and prosecute it, and for victims to find the extensive support they need to participate in the legal process. The mission to fight human trafficking is complex, but Arc Aspicio is dedicated and proactive in fighting this prevalent crime.

IdeaJams open the door for employees to define and explore problems, which generates a passion to find solutions

Since I first learned about the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+Z keyboard short cuts in elementary school, I have been addicted to experimenting with new technologies that can improve productivity and innovation. It’s incredible to see a steady stream of new business products arrive into the mass market and bring exponential increases in productivity and innovation.

To disrupt Government Acquisition, Arc Aspicio’s Strategy Innovation Lab partnered with Skylight Digital to host an IdeaJam on micro consulting. You have questions: What on earth is an IdeaJam? What are Micro Projects? Why are we disrupting anything? We have answers.

Innovation is difficult to harness for organizations of all sizes (Government and private sector alike). Replicating a process to encourage and produce innovation is even more challenging. Innovating in a structured space and time seems counter-intuitive, and begs the question: can thinking outside the box be a structured activity? Arc Aspicio recently held an Innovation Day to answer this question.

At Arc Aspicio, our clients face some of the most challenging problems there are. They respond to natural and man-made disasters, protect the country from terrorism, protect U.S. borders, and that’s just on a regular Monday!

Shrinking budgets. Rising expectations from citizens and customers of the Government. Aging legacy systems. Increasing complexity and regulations. The need to provide ‘on demand’ services to a new generation.

Arlington VA, March 14, 2018 — The Greater Washington Innovation Awards chose Arc Aspicio to participate in their showcase as a nominee for the Professional Services Innovator of the Year Award. This prestigious event gave Arc Aspicio employees the opportunity to present their innovative methods for solving the Federal Government’s most complex challenges.

Washington, DC, June 7, 2017 — Arc Aspicio plans to host an inaugural Design Thinking Forum featuring a discussion on how Federal leaders can innovate solutions to create the future of Government. Design Thinking is a human-centered innovation process that emphasizes observation, collaboration, fast learning, visualization of ideas, rapid concept prototyping, and concurrent business analysis, which ultimately generates innovation and increased mission outcomes.

Government agencies and businesses must embrace innovation and strategic thinking to keep up with today’s changing society, rising demands, and complex problems. Encouraging organizations to fully adopt innovative thinking, however, is difficult. Organizations are often focused on their daily activities and have limited time to discover new approaches. In addition, employees often choose to stay with proven, mainstream solutions because they fear wasting resources or failure. 

Across Government, agencies are responding to new mandates, challenges, and priorities – and rarely do these shifts come with budget increases to match. 2017 will bring increased uncertainty. Depending on the outcome of the presidential election, strategic directions may shift a little, or a lot.