“Muddy language is not confined to policies alone. Each of you has seen replies to simple questions in which the meaning was lost through hopelessly obscure wording.”
— General Omar Bradley, the second administrator of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, 1947

One of the core principles of high-performance IT (HPIT) is alignment. But what we are aligning to differs greatly between the public and private sectors. For example, in the private sector, organizations often view investments through the lens of profit and revenue. In the public sector, however, it’s about achieving impactful outcomes and delivering value to society.

It’s also important to recognize the cultural and linguistic differences between the private and public sectors. For example, terms such as revenue and profit in the private sector translate to outcome and impact in the public sector. Aligning language in this way helps ensure that everyone is on the same page, which can significantly improve communication, reduce misunderstandings, and lead to more effective initiatives.

Introducing High-Performance IT For The Public Sector And Government

This is why we have recently revisited our earlier HPIT research, which was originally heavily private-sector-focused, and reframed key parts of the framework to ensure that it speaks directly to the needs of mission leaders, civil servants, and the wider public-sector ecosystem.

Our first report, Applying The Styles Of High-Performance IT: Public Sector And Government, explores different IT investment styles as part of an IT strategy and highlights the tangible benefits that these approaches can produce for mission leaders and civil servants. Along with my colleagues Devin Dickerson and Carlos Rivera, in this report, we delve into:

  • The different styles of IT investment and how they align with broader organizational goals for technology-enabled delivery in the public sector.
  • The strategic benefits that each investment approach can bring, from cost optimization to enhanced service delivery, to ensure that mission leaders make informed decisions about technology investments.
  • How public-sector IT organizations should respond by strengthening different internal capabilities depending on the style of their IT investments.

What’s Coming Up Next

Understanding these IT investment styles is crucial for maximizing the value of technology within the public sector. In the coming weeks, we will add a new HPIT Readiness Assessment tailored for organizations in the public sector and government. A series of case studies from government agencies and other mission-based enterprises that have successfully applied our approach will complete this update.

So whether you’re a civil servant, policymaker, or simply someone curious about improving public-sector IT strategy, this report will give you a valuable understanding of what HPIT looks like in the service of the public.

As always, Devin, Carlos, and I would value hearing your thoughts on these efforts and any feedback from those with client access to the report after you’ve had a chance to explore it.

Finally, if you’re looking for continuous guidance and support, the team at Forrester is ready to serve: You can raise a guidance request or log an inquiry here.