Not Business As Usual: ICT Opportunities In The Government Sector

The news about governments is often dire: Economic crises, austerity budgets, crises of constituent confidence, protests, riots, and war often make the headlines. However, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the increasing pressures from all sides, governments of all levels are in a period of transformation. That transition will drive spending on information and communication technology (ICT). In Forrester's 2011 forecast of global ICT spending, the government sector is the third-largest vertical industry at $286 billion, behind the professional services and financial services sectors. For technology products and services providers, the government sector requires an approach that is not just business as usual. Political constraints and public mandates shape government buyers' unique priorities, attitudes toward technology, buying patterns, and the pace of technology adoption. Technology product and service providers must take these differences into account when pursuing opportunities in government — by embracing new product strategies, new go-to-market strategies, and new business models.