The Future of Fed is Data-Driven

It’s often said that data is the one source government organizations have in abundance. Nowhere is it truer than in the U.S. federal government.

The Office of Management and Budget, which released the final Federal Data Strategy 2020 Action Plan on Dec. 23, 2019, recognizes that data management matters. When data programs are executed intentionally, organizations can modernize IT infrastructure, reduce costs, improve access to information, and strengthen decision-making.

The Federal Data Strategy presents new opportunities — both technical and cultural. The current federal data landscape is awash with varying governance rules and challenges. Data, applications, and systems are disconnected. As a result, data and business intelligence is difficult to discover, use, and apply to programs and policies. Organizations will need to share best practices, adopt new skills, collaborate across jurisdictions, and take down existing silos.

This guide describes the new federal data initiatives and explores the steps necessary to build effective, cross-functional data programs. And, it recommends a solution to avoid the pitfalls in building data-driven, outcome-focused, government organizations.