Investing in technology by emphasizing communication enhances the likelihood of achieving success.
Modernizing Federal Applications: The Power of Collaborative Communication
In the modern digital age, federal agencies are adopting new tools to streamline and modernize applications. However, the success of these initiatives hinges not just on the technology itself, but on how effectively people use it.
User Adoption and Change Management
Successful modernization relies heavily on the adoption of new technology by knowledge workers. In large federal projects, like a major HCM system implemented for 1.1 million users, agencies reduced errors and improved proficiency through real-time guidance and support embedded in the technology [1]. This underscores the critical role of communication and collaboration in adoption.
Digital Literacy Across All Levels
Ensuring organization-wide digital education, including among leadership, is essential. Inclusive training improves workforce confidence and capability, helping reduce resistance to change and encouraging participation in decision-making [2].
Leadership Commitment and Support
Leaders must promote continuous digital development, provide ongoing training, and sustain a culture that values innovation and experimentation. This includes recognizing digital efforts as positive contributions and aligning technical resources to meet expectations [2].
Bridging Intention and Impact
Digital Adoption Platforms and sustained change management frameworks, such as Microsoft’s ADKAR model, emphasize awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and reinforcement to ensure technology investments lead to tangible outcomes [1][4].
Strategic Collaboration
Agency champions act as vital intermediaries coordinating between knowledge workers and leadership, facilitating open communication, feedback loops, and ensuring that modernization efforts align with operational realities and mission needs [1][2].
Resource and Infrastructure Alignment
Effective collaboration helps identify and allocate necessary hardware, stable connectivity, and financial resources, removing logistical barriers to modernization [2].
The Role of Darreisha Harper
Darreisha Harper, Federal Portfolio Manager for Tyler Technologies, emphasizes the importance of communication in implementing change. Harper has managed and coordinated auditing and compliance initiatives in the federal government for 13 years, including time on Capitol Hill with congressional representatives [5].
Collaborative Communication: Key to Success
Collaborative communication enables shared understanding, trust, and a coordinated approach to change, which are indispensable for streamlining applications and achieving sustainable modernization in federal agencies [1][2][4]. Without this collaboration, agencies risk underutilizing technology investments, facing resistance to change, and encountering inefficiencies.
Building Relationships and Open Conversation
Open conversation is important at all levels of the agency to set an example for the kind of conversations leadership hopes to facilitate. Remembering people's names can help everyone feel more comfortable speaking up and offering suggestions. Working groups are recommended for building relationships across departments and problem-solving [3].
Access to Data and Quality Assurance
Making program and outcomes data accessible not only to data teams but also to program staff and leadership can help generate buy-in and facilitate change. Quality assurance and quality control checks offer another source of insight about the system's effectiveness [3].
In conclusion, effective communication and collaboration among knowledge workers, agency champions, and leadership are the cornerstones of successful modernization and streamlining of applications in federal agencies. These practices help ensure consistent and confident use of new technologies, foster a culture of innovation and digital fluency, align resources and infrastructure, and enable adaptive leadership through continuous feedback and training.
[1] - https://www.tylertech.com/resources/whitepapers/digital-adoption-platforms-drive-success-for-federal-agencies [2] - https://www.tylertech.com/resources/whitepapers/agency-modernization-strategies-for-federal-government [3] - https://www.tylertech.com/resources/whitepapers/modernizing-federal-agencies-with-digital-transformation [4] - https://www.tylertech.com/resources/whitepapers/changing-the-game-with-change-management [5] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darreisha-harper-258157128/
- In the process of modernizing federal applications, it's crucial to foster a culture with a strong focus on business, technology, and digital literacy, ensuring a seamless transition for knowledge workers.
- For a successful modernization of federal applications, leadership should prioritize the adoption of technology, strategic communication, and active collaboration across all levels of the organization, instilling a sense of digital fluency and drive towards innovation.
