Innovation is probably one of the most liberally used buzzwords – while every business leader knows that it is important, nobody seems to agree on its exact meaning or how to go about implementing it. It is important to realize that innovation does not necessarily mean inventing breakthrough technologies, rather it is about finding proactive ways to maximize process efficiency. The long-term benefits of true innovation will always outweigh the short-term implementation cost. In today’s Federal fiscal environment of decreasing resources and increasing scrutiny, there is a growing pressure on agencies’ leadership to utilize the available resources in an efficient and outcome-driven manner. While such forces should drive innovation, counter forces – such as archaic acquisition processes, aversion to risk, and a culture of status quo – have impeded large scale adoption of fresh innovative approaches. According to a recent survey by Accenture, only 21 percent of government agencies have …
