{"id":29239,"date":"2021-08-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourpublicservice.org\/innovation-and-technology-modernization\/"},"modified":"2022-03-11T20:13:43","modified_gmt":"2022-03-12T01:13:43","slug":"innovation-and-technology-modernization","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ourpublicservice.org\/our-solutions\/roadmap-for-renewing-our-federal-government\/innovation-and-technology-modernization\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovation and Technology Modernization"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Roadmap for Renewing Our Federal Government<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Roadmap Home<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Leadership and Stewardship<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Workforce<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Innovation and Tech<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Collaboration<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Innovation and Technology Modernization<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
THE CHALLENGE<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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Our country needs an effective, innovative government that can meet the demands of a fast-paced, interconnected, technology-driven world,\u202fbut government often struggles to keep pace. Federal agencies offer few incentives for employees to try new ideas, are saddled with outdated technology and lag behind the private sector in hiring qualified technologists\u202fin sufficient numbers\u202ffor critical leadership and staff positions.\u202fThis antiquated system is an impediment to the government\u2019s ability to meet the needs of today\u2019s interconnected, technology-driven world and prepare for the challenges of the future.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just over\u00a0<\/span><\/span>four in 10<\/span><\/span>\u00a0federal civil servants feel creativity and innovation are rewarded in the workplace<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>c<\/span>c<\/span>o<\/span>r<\/span>d<\/span>i<\/span>n<\/span>g<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>o<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>2<\/span>0<\/span>1<\/span>9<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Best Places to Work in the Federal Government\u00ae<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>d<\/span>a<\/span>t<\/span>a<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t

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The government spends\u00a0<\/span><\/span>80%<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of its annual $<\/span>100<\/span>\u00a0billion information technology\u00a0<\/span><\/span>budget<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0on operating and maintaining existing IT investments, including legacy systems<\/span>\u2014<\/span>many of which are decades old<\/span>\u2014<\/span>not on new investments in leading-edge technologies.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t

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There are\u00a0<\/span><\/span>16<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>times more mission-critical IT employees\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>g<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>5<\/span>0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>n<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>o<\/span>v<\/span>e<\/span>r<\/span>\u00a0than under 30 (52.5% versus 3.3%).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t

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The federal government\u00a0<\/span>ranked last among 10\u00a0<\/span><\/b>major economic sectors in customer satisfaction, falling short on the timeliness and ease of its processes, professionalism, courtesy, and website quality, according to the 2019 American Customer Satisfaction Index.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n\n

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONGRESS<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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Expand All Recommendations<\/p>\n\n\n

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End crisis budgeting and create processes that foster forward-looking planning and sound management, including adopting biennial budget resolutions, more multi-year appropriations and the timely passage of appropriations bills.\u202f <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t
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Short-term spending resolutions and government shutdowns impede agencies from engaging in long-term planning and investments, like replacing\u202for modernizing antiquated IT systems.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t

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Conduct a comprehensive review and update of all federal technology management laws, rules and regulations.\u202f <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t
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Technologies have evolved rapidly since the adoption of laws such as the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 and the E-Government Act of 2002, but the framework for how the government acquires and manages technology has not kept pace with today\u2019s needs. Modernizing the technology laws and practices will help bring the government in sync with today\u2019s fast-paced digital economy, competitive labor market and evolving customer expectations.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t

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Pass the Federal Agency Customer Experience Act of 2021 and other legislation related to customer service, and make it easier for agencies to collect customer feedback.\u202f<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t
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The public deserves user-friendly services from the federal government, and<\/span> the importance <\/span>of providing fast and reliable services reached new heights during the coronavirus pandemic. Passing the FACE Act would revise an outdated law that makes it difficult to collect and publish customer experience data and that will allow agencies to collect that feedback and engage in conversations with their customers.\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n