September 8, 2022
Digital Modernization in Government: Organizational Change Management
In this third of our three part series on digital government transformation we explore the people side of making change. With the Biden administration’s executive order on Customer Experience (CX) beginning to take effect in federal priorities, managing organizational change within bureaucracies is becoming increasingly important while simultaneously remaining the most difficult aspect of transformation.
November 2, 2021
Digital Modernization in Government: Coordination, Communication, and Training
In this three part Insight, we discuss the opportunities and challenges large organizations face when undertaking large digital transformations. In part one, we examine the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record modernization effort. Upon a 12 week review of the program by Secretary McDonough, we unpack the issues related to coordination, communication, and training, as well as possible solutions to the challenges for future engagements.
August 3, 2021
Missing the Watercooler Moments: Guidance on Effective Mentoring Remote Workers
Remote working is here to stay for millions of people, especially for Millennials and Gen Z. Being physically distant from their office allows for greater flexibility, but also can diminish employee interaction and development. In this Insight, Business Development Strategist and Education Services Manager, Jake Hannigan, offers advice on how to effectively mentor remote workers.
June 17, 2021
Diversity and Inclusion from Ideas to Reality: An Interview with Ed Simon
June this year represents not only LGBTQ Pride month, but also a year since the world responded to the murder of George Floyd in the form of civic engagement, protest, and in many cases new awareness and initiatives around diversity and inclusion in some of the world’s largest organizations. Like many companies, a year ago we issued our BLM statement and tried to better understand what role we could play to further racial equity. Now, we reflect on our effectiveness and what we can do to maintain momentum a year after the statements were made. For this Insight, we interviewed an expert on the topic, Ed Simon, to continue learning how companies can meaningfully become more inclusive beyond statements of support.
November 17, 2020
Promise and Peril: Broadband & Cybercrime in the age of COVID
Stay at home orders due to COVID-19 have forced humanity to depend on the internet like never before. But for billions of people around the world, partially in developing countries, internet access remains elusive, starving those in need of its resources and opportunities. For those fortunate enough to have access, slow broadband and cybersecurity threats have diminished the promise of the internet. In this insight, Program Director for Van Allen Strategies, Namita Duggal and Business Development Strategist, Jake Hannigan, discuss how the US can improve access to broadband and increase cyber security.
September 29, 2020
The Agile Transition
In this Insight, Agile veteran Tim Streightiff offers lessons, experience, and advice for transitioning teams from traditional Waterfall software development approaches to Agile. Tim discusses how to not only establish the right metrics in the context of this transition, but also inspire and empower a team to thrive in an Agile environment.
July 14, 2020
Keeping Remote Workers Happy and Healthy
While the transition to telecommuting has been underway for over a decade, the recent pandemic has accelerated the trend by forcing hundreds of millions to stay home. Remote working is no longer about flexibility. It is how we slow transmission of COVID-19 and keeping the public safe. This article explores recent trends in remote work and offers best practices for keeping remote works engaged, healthy, and happy.
