Inside any organization, Government or business, you find successful agencies and companies moving forward on the strength of a strategic plan. Unfortunately, a one-stop planning session rarely produces a sufficient and lasting strategic plan. A successful strategic plan requires a defined purpose, continuous focused assessments, and a plan to develop a repeatable process.
Analysis and innovation are critical to the Government in times of security pressure and budget austerity. Successful tools that accelerate how consultants innovate for their clients are critical.
“Why aren’t strategies implemented?” is a common question inside and outside of Government. There are many reasons for these failures, but senior leadership commitment and stakeholder involvement are particularly critical as strategic plans are developed.
With increased trade, immigration, and travel, the global security landscape is constantly shifting. To manage this wide diversity of threats, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can continue to integrate its efforts to communicate and collaborate with international partners through offices like the International Cooperative Programs Office and the Office of International Affairs.
Strategists are constantly advising clients of the need to adapt their processes and methods to meet the realities of new technologies, challenges, and evolving customer/constituent demands.
Nearly 14 years after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) brought together 22 distinct organizations and functions with different but related missions into one organization, it can reflect back at the successes and continued challenges. As each new DHS leader embarked on reviewing the progress, recognizing accomplishments, and setting priorities, DHS has become more integrated and more efficient.
As the Government battles an ever-increasing number of complex security risks, it must continuously find new ways to sift through data to adequately handle threats. Homeland security leaders can apply a multi-layered approach to enhance its data analytics process through the studies of anthropology and philosophy.
As our nation continues to face a rising number of threats at home, the Government must devise innovative solutions to maintain effective homeland security. The increasing threat to aviation security based on the recent Egyptian Air incidents, the growing threat from international terrorism, and the rising threat from unrest in other countries is challenging the Government to find new ways to overcome specific challenges (e.g., airport security, immigration entry to the country, etc.).
How can the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approach the magnitude of protecting ports and waters, anticipating risk of visitors to the U.S., or confirming that immigrants should become U.S. citizens because they pose no threat?
Biometrics are a key tool to help law enforcement and counterterrorism agencies identify threats in many mission areas – crossing borders, at airports, at ports of entry – related to critical infrastructure protection. Knowing someone reduces threat for many homeland security agencies.
Mission priorities such as law enforcement information sharing, immigration modernization, cybersecurity and the insider threat, survivor-centric emergency management, and combatting human trafficking require a more strategic approach to find scarce resources to address growing threats.
Insider threats are a serious cybersecurity risk to the Federal Government. According to Verizon’s 2013 Data Breach Investigations Report, insider threats, which can be malicious or accidental, comprise at least 14% of confirmed data breaches. Each type of insider threat requires a unique solution.
Community involvement is a large part of Arc Aspicio and our culture. As a company, we organize several community service events each year to give back to our community. Community service events are much like the work we perform as consultants. They provide us the opportunity to solve problems and provide guidance and assistance, just in a different way.
