Industry Innovation: US Federal Government

The US government, with its almost $80 billion annual IT budget, is one of the largest consumers of IT goods and services in the world. It is therefore not surprising that the same technological directions embraced by private industry — cloud computing, increased mobility, and greater use of social media channels — are also taking hold here. However, two directions — toward greater transparency and toward greater engagement — have the potential to usher in major changes to the way federal employees and constituents acquire, manage, and consume technology. If the new initiatives to transform federal IT are to work, it will be as a direct result of successes in these seemingly mundane areas. This report provides an overview of government innovations in the use and management of disruptive technologies, such as social and collaborative computing. Further moves to enhance government transparency and constituent engagement are likely to follow.