At any given time, there are 27.6 million victims of human trafficking across the globe. Multiple Federal agencies have missions and responsibilities related to combating this horrendous crime and often need to work together to make an impact.
Organizations that clearly define their mission, vision, and values position themselves for success in rapidly changing work environments. These strategic elements serve as a roadmap, helping organizations make decisions and inspire employees. As hybrid work becomes the new normal, embracing a mission delivery culture is vital for organizations to improve individual experience and strengthen their mission for success.
Citizen expectations, digital transformation, new missions and mandates, and budget constraints are just a few of the challenges that Government agencies face so, the need to strategically problem solve happens frequently. Developing effective solutions for the challenges agencies – from tax administration to transportation security to law enforcement – requires a thoughtful and structured approach. These challenges contain myriad independent issues, multiple stakeholders with unique needs and points of view, and (commonly) pre-conceived notions regarding solutions not grounded in fact.
At Arc Aspicio, our employees are always looking for opportunities to serve the Metropolitan DC area and receive annual volunteer hours to give back to our community. We organize events throughout the year to encourage employees to use those hours with organizations such as the National Search Dog Foundation (SDF), Courtney’s House, and the Rock Creek Conservancy.
Whether new technology calls on us to innovate in the digital space or stakeholders continue to demand improvements to outdated systems, there is an increasing need for Government innovation and a willingness to accept failure.
The Innovation Checkpoint at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, which reopened in 2021 is the only airport security checkpoint in the nation that tests new security technology in real time. This collaboration between the Transportation Security Administration and McCarran Airport is one of many examples of organizations implementing an Innovation Mindset to act and use innovative approaches to solve homeland security challenges.
Throughout the years, Arc Aspicio has prioritized community engagement, making it an integral part of our company culture. Our company provides employees with annual volunteer hours and encourages them to give back to our community and its members. Engaged employees are more productive, and by allowing employees to grow through volunteerism, you allow for growth in productivity.
As leaders prioritize to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, there has been a rush to put programs into place. Behavioral science has been around for 70 years, yet it is underused to promote advancement in this area.
Behavioral science interventions often promote good ideas and the practice of beneficial habits such as investing and healthy living. These are proven to be highly effective, and even simple, low-cost interventions can yield significant results.
Whether it is responding to a global crisis or packing a moving truck, we all participate in problem-solving in some form each day. Still, too often when we face complex problems at the organizational level, we jump directly into the problem rather than following a fact-based process to address it.
Problem-solving is a fundamental skill in any work environment but following a structured and repeatable approach to problem-solving greatly enhances outcomes.
We often quickly and instinctively recognize when a process or design is not working well, even if we cannot quite pinpoint what is not working or how to fix it. This is a challenge that often feels daunting and complex while leaving us asking ourselves “where do I begin?” Structured frameworks help organizations break the problem into more manageable pieces, set goals, and identify where to start, where to go next, and how to get there. When designed well, these frameworks turn into a playbook which helps organizations maximize resources, improve quality, and allow for repeatability to address challenges with strong solutions.
At the heart of every government agency is a mission. This mission defines not just the organization, but the priority objectives, short-term and long-term goals, and the precise context in which any part of that organization contributes to transforming those goals into a reality.
Organizations face unique problem-solving challenges that require a new mindset of how to frame questions and look at solutions, all while inspiring diversity in thought. The world is more digital and complex than ever before, which opens opportunities for diverse teams to solve problems quickly and iteratively while accelerating change in this new hybrid environment.
Government leaders are constantly on the lookout for innovations that could be brought to bear on their most difficult challenges. Separating the truly useful new approaches from the mere buzzwords can be hard to navigate.
When evaluating what the market has to offer, leaders should focus on one question above all else: how does this help me solve the problems confronting my organization?
Government and private sector organizations alike face a daunting challenge when considering how to adapt to long-term hybrid work environments in the post-pandemic world. A hybrid environment, with a mix of remote and in-person work arrangements, introduces ambiguity and complexity, and presents opportunities to organizations. The key to a compelling, effective, and sustainable approach to hybrid work is to avoid the temptation for one-size-fits-all solutions and to instead focus on tailoring an approach that puts your workforce in a position to succeed at meeting your unique organizational mission.
