Strategy is a set of decisions about what an organization will – and will not – do to achieve its goals. The larger the organization, the more challenging it is to implement a strategy. A clear, well-understood strategy helps focus resources and effort on an organization’s most important priorities. Culture, however, is the key to making strategy happen, especially in large, complex organizations like the Federal Government.
Shifting from neurobiological research on substance use to Federal consulting was not as much of a leap as it may seem. Instead, it was the next step in my career rooted in the same core values. At the heart of both roles are three essential principles that continue to shape my work: innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based problem solving.
Most leaders, and humans, can likely agree that change is hard. Nevertheless, adapting to changing circumstances is the new normal.
Climate change is a complex and far-reaching threat that impacts far more than the environment.
As the United States bounces back from a global pandemic and tackles the climate crisis, citizens' expectations of the Federal Government are higher than ever.
Most Americans have heard of human trafficking, but few know how prevalent it is within the United States.
At any given time, there are 27.6 million victims of human trafficking across the globe. Multiple Federal agencies have missions and responsibilities related to combating this horrendous crime and often need to work together to make an impact.
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.
At the heart of every government agency is a mission. This mission defines not just the organization, but the priority objectives, short-term and long-term goals, and the precise context in which any part of that organization contributes to transforming those goals into a reality.
Government leaders are constantly on the lookout for innovations that could be brought to bear on their most difficult challenges. Separating the truly useful new approaches from the mere buzzwords can be hard to navigate.
When evaluating what the market has to offer, leaders should focus on one question above all else: how does this help me solve the problems confronting my organization?
With government agencies becoming increasingly complex, they often require a large staff of government employees and sometimes contractors to achieve their goals. While focusing on the daily tasks, it can be easy to lose touch with the agency’s overarching mission. The mission of an agency defines priority objectives, short-term and long-term goals, and the precise context of the operation.
Developing a mission mindset is critical to keeping an organization’s mission in focus, as it is the foundation for understanding your office and agency’s goals. A mission mindset drives delivery from mission statement to task completion, which allows the individual to understand how their direct assignments contribute to realizing the mission.
When people hear the word ‘innovation’ today, they often think of high-profile digital startups in Silicon Valley, impressive advances in medicine, or new tools and techniques for remote collaboration and social interaction. Private-sector organizations, with their leadership in these areas, have set a high bar for Government organizations to aspire to. So, what does innovation really mean for the Government? How can it harness the ideas in its workforce to bring innovation to life?
A strategic theme sets a tone for how a company successfully achieves strategic goals and objectives and encourages complimentary action. Each year at Arc Aspicio we choose a theme that inspires our employees to work to bring our strategy to life. This year, we chose #Spark. #Spark captures our desire to accelerate bold ideas.
