Do you ever find yourself adding fruits and vegetables to your tray while dining at a cafeteria and the asking yourself “Why do I have an apple and salad on my tray when I don’t even like salad”? How about grabbing a lighter or a shaving razor from the check-out lane at the Supermarket? If the answer is yes, then you have experienced and been influenced by Choice Architecture.
Human Trafficking is a global problem, the extent of which is not clearly understood and is difficult to measure. To tackle this issue, Arc Aspicio’s SILab hosted Innovative Ideas to Combat Human Trafficking – A Conversation in November 2019. The SILab is a knowledge hub that accelerates innovative and sustainable solutions through methods, tools, thought leadership, events, and other resources to help our people, partners, and clients solve complex problems. Nearly 30 professionals with experience combating human trafficking in law enforcement, victim services non-profits, academia, and the private sector and a survivor participated to offer strategic and actionable solutions for combating human trafficking during the event.
Engaging with a great artificial intelligence (AI) application is like watching a professional athlete in a game. The greatest of athletes make their efforts look so easy that we often forget we’re seeing the result of decades of hard work. Just like athletes, established corporations that have repeatedly collected the same data over years also make their AI solutions look effortless. But, in most cases, their AI is using data that has been carefully refined over decades of transactions and is enabling machine learning and statistical analysis.
Human trafficking is a complex crime that requires the collective resources from law enforcement, industry, academia, and victim services providers in Government and the private sector to address. It is a national level problem but, unfortunately, it is often only addressed at the local level where it impacts communities.
Most of us have seen strategies that looked great on paper but never seemed to get off the ground. Somewhere along the way, implementation faltered. Important goals fell by the wayside and the organization never rallied around the direction set by leadership. And still, business as usual carried on. This sort of failure is practically guaranteed without buy-in and participation from employees across an organization
Human trafficking, whether it be labor or sex trafficking, is a complex crime where victims may not even recognize they are victims. This makes it hard for law enforcement professionals to identify and prosecute it, and for victims to find the extensive support they need to participate in the legal process. The mission to fight human trafficking is complex, but Arc Aspicio is dedicated and proactive in fighting this prevalent crime.
More and more, Information Technology (IT) modernization programs are improving customer experience for those who interact with agencies. The modernization process identifies new technology that can replace legacy systems or promote electronic processes. A taxpayer’s experience in filing tax returns or a senior seeking public housing are two examples where modernization makes a difference for citizens.
IdeaJams open the door for employees to define and explore problems, which generates a passion to find solutions
Getting a handle on the spiraling costs of Information Technology (IT) investments poses many challenges. It is sensible for the government to treat investments in IT like utilities, just as it has for industry. Linking Technology Business Management (TBM) with established Enterprise Architecture (EA) practice smooths the journey to cost transparency. Better management of costs is a step toward better mission efficiency and effectiveness.
Knowledge workers recognize that the key to success is sharing what they know and asking questions when they don’t. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld knew as much when he famously said there are “known knowns” and “unknown unknowns.”
When solving a problem for a Government or commercial client, consulting tends to focus on solutions. However, consultants do not spend enough time solving the problem—i.e., diagnosing the root causes of the problem and thinking about what it takes to get a solution fully operational. Will there be resistance to change? What are the risks? What are the unintended consequences of solving only one part of a problem? Consultants need to focus on results and overcoming all barriers and risks that prevent an innovative idea from coming to life.
Arc Aspicio’s culture prioritizes serving the Metro DC community, and we are involved in more pro bono consulting projects than ever before. Through volunteering, our teams advance the mission areas we support, including homeland security, emergency management, and law enforcement.
