Why digital transformation is a process, not a destination –

Federal digital transformation initiatives have been going on for some time now, and the results have been – well, mixed. IT managers have a difficult row to hoe here, because they are at the forefront of carrying an unwelcome message back up the chain of command: Digital transformation is a process, not a destination.

Clearly, federal leadership sees digital transformation from at least two perspectives: Updating the online user experience, and transforming the data center infrastructure to take greater advantage of the cloud.

Data center optimization is a key measurement for scorecarding in the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act. This measurement is in part a reflection of how well the agency infrastructure takes advantage of the cloud. As of August 2020, digital center optimization dragged down the curve in FITARA scorecarding, with several agencies actually dropping a grade or more from the previous year. (At this writing, the 2021 FITARA scorecard results were not yet available.)

The 21 Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA) is faring a little better. Agency officials are expected to set a clear course to make .gov websites more user-friendly, with more online services for the public. Some agencies, such as the USDA, are already taking advantage of data analytics and feedback to understand the needs of customers.

That’s just two of several important expressions of digital transformation required by the federal government. The stumbling block in making digital transformation work at the agency level is often self-imposed: time.

For some there isn’t enough time to make digital transformation plans and continue meeting mission-critical objectives. Paradoxically, the agencies that may feel they don’t have the time to fully implement digital transformation are the very ones that might most greatly benefit from that transformation.

This paradox is so commonplace that an informal working group has been established, including both federal agencies and the vendor community, to find ways to solve the puzzle. (Preliminary findings from the working group meeting have yet to be released.)

It’s simple, really: The future operations of every government agency are tied to how well that agency adapts to the continuing changes in the internet, and how well transactions are conducted) in the digital economy. And because the internet is a constantly evolving environment, agencies must continually adapt to that shifting landscape. Digital transformation is not an item that can be readily checked off a list.

The unenviable task of explaining this seemingly obvious conclusion to agency decision-makers most commonly falls to IT managers. To explain the utility of digital transformation, it’s clear that underscoring compliance with FITARA or other similar regulations is not enough. It may be necessary to present the case in terms of the larger business benefits such transformation can offer.