For those who said governments could not move fast, our recent experience revealed otherwise. But it’s more than working from home — the public sector must be able to legislate, educate and deliver all sorts of citizen services virtually. When you see what agencies and localities have done with collaboration tools like Webex, connectivity capabilities like software-defined wide area networks, and applications that live where they need to for accessibility and security, it’s evident they are on their way to building true connected communities and delivering positive citizen outcomes. Post-pandemic, some 86 percent of government leaders agree these hybrid changes are permanent in some form. This effort to digitize has rapidly accelerated. The context that’s starting to emerge is:
- The cloud is the new data center,
- Softwareasaservice is the new application,
- The Internet is the new network that gives us connectivity,
- The edge is where the person or device is.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT GENERATION OF EMPLOYEES?
For the next generation of government employees, the need for flexibility is the new norm (see our latest survey). As a result, governments will have to reimagine their approach to work by expanding the view of how and where work gets done.
The new generation is driven by a desire for a better work-life balance. Engaging employees and ensuring their well-being must be a top priority for government leaders as they look to the future. Post-pandemic, the public sector must:
- Implement solutions that help avoid burnout syndrome,
- Find ways to keep employees connected,
- Develop processes and programs to help assure each employee’s mental health,
- Work proactively to attract the right new talent and adopt methods to retain them by helping them develop their leadership skills.
HOW CITIZEN SERVICES ARE CHANGING
The digital and physical world are converging, no longer do citizens want to have everything face to face — they expect to receive services digitally. Plus, with over $350 billion in federal funding going to states and localities, now is the time to accelerate modernization and ensure security to enable superior citizen experience. With the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in mind, governments will start focusing on services that rival private industry so citizens can have that equal-to experience. To enable this, it is key that the public and private sector work together as partners, sharing ideas and technologies that can break down the silos that exist across government agencies, increasing efficiencies for everyone. For example, when a citizen is accessing one state portal (let’s say to pay taxes), they might receive a pop-up message reminding them that their driver’s license has expired. This would immediately link them to the state’s DMV site, providing the citizen with a hassle-free renewal experience.
When we bring all these things together, we enable the concept of a digital citizen. At Cisco, we’re already partnering with state and local governments to drive interagency collaboration that can power applications centered on what citizens want versus how government traditionally operates. During the pandemic, we have seen bureaucracy take a back seat, creating opportunities to implement some of these approaches.
HOW YOU CAN PREPARE
As state and local governments transition to a new operating model that is more resilient and responsive, a high level of leadership is going to be paramount (learn more in our latest survey of government IT leaders). Leaders in government IT must stay close to their people, remain connected and lead with empathy — and compassion.
To successfully serve the next-generation workforce, we must also remember that technology is just the enabler. It is people and processes that are — and will be — the “secret sauce” to leverage this full stack to deliver quality citizen and workforce experiences.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, governments quickly discovered how to cut through red tape to get things done. The pandemic has proven that government can move fast, especially when supported by a reliable and experienced private-sector partner in IT like Cisco.
At Cisco, we’re working with the public sector to actively develop and implement innovative and secure solutions that can scale with the needs of government and enhance resiliency in times of stress. And together with our partner Government Technology, we’re exploring strategies for building the next generation of government (learn more here). We invite you to join us.
DIVE DEEPER ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF GOVERNMENT
- WatchGovernment Technology’s Q&A event on new operating models for government, featuring Cisco’s own Nick Michaelides and Marcus Moffett.
- Discover how thecity of Buffalo stayed connected in a time of crisis.
- Make the most of your ARPA funds
- Transforming Government Through Digitization
- Are you ready for the Next-Generation Workforce for State and Local Government?
- IT Modernization: TheNew imperative for Government
- Watch the recent Government Technology webinar Enabling the Hybrid Work Environment of theFuture
- Learn how justice systems stay connected in today’s hybrid world
