If it seems like innovation is happening faster than ever before, that’s because it is. We’re not just seeing greater efficiency across multiple industries; we’re seeing complete disruption where new models replace the way we think and behave. Are you ready to respond? Can you handle change?
In this issue, we explore some of the disruptive forces at play right now, from AI at the Department of Energy, to creative responses to compliance requirements, to change-leadership culture. Even if your organization tends to be slower on adopting new technology, there are lessons to be learned from studying those shaking things up.
Speaking of things shifting the industry: Is CMMC on your mind? For government contractors, this cybersecurity certification process is scheduled to begin in January of 2021. If you’re not sure where to start or are mired in the details, give us a call. DTS has introduced a quick and easy Readiness Review and Report to help small and medium businesses prepare for their assessment.
Think back to January 1. Would you have guessed then that the public and private sector could transform so significantly in less than a year? Certainly not, and yet, here was are. We’re living and working in an extraordinary time where there’s little choice but to embrace change and figure out how to make it work. What changes are you most proud of this year? Continue the conversation via email, Microsoft Teams, or with a call.
Edward Tuorinsky
Managing Principal
DTS
Edward.Tuorinsky@consultDTS.com
571.403.1841
Disruptive Technology Shifting the Government Landscape
We tend to think of disruptors as hipsters working out of their garage with a crazy idea to hack the system. A disruptor in government? Sounds like an oxymoron but it looks like the Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE has long been known for it’s Human Genome Project and leading research efforts. Now they’ve launched more than 600 advance research initiatives to into AI and ML applications across a wide range of industries and uses.
Other agencies and contractors take note: DOE predicts a period of great transformative change ahead where AI will be a critical component of success with literally millions of potential optimizations.
Cheryl Ingstad, the first Director of the Artificial Intelligence & Technology Office (AITO) within the DOE, talks about the impact that technology innovations like AI will have on the federal government in an interview with Forbes. Read the transcript now.
Compliant Disruptors: How Following the Rules Can Shake Things Up
What if current working restraints are the catalyst to new ways of thinking?
What if our obstacles could lead to greater innovation and success?
If these aren’t the questions on your mind this fall, then take a moment to reframe the suite of federal regulations projected to go live January 1.
Every industry has its share of ‘must do’s’ and all companies within the industry are faced with the same challenges. What distinguishes the great from the good is how creative your organization gets with a solution.
Will compliance distinguish you from competitors?
Will it lead to greater efficiency or profitability?
Will you discover new opportunities?
This short case study, from one of the country’s most regulated industries, is your inspiration. Then, let’s schedule time on my calendar for a virtual coffee and discuss how this thinking applies to your situation.
Disruptive Tech to Watch
2020 has turned out to be not only a memorable year, but also a pivotal one for business and government. COVID forced many to act agile – trying and discarding new technologies to determine how employees could best working from home – and accelerating tech adoption that normally would have been rolled out over months or years.
Early on, before we had even heard about the virus, TechRepublic looked at the top technologies poised to disrupt the status quo. Virtual meeting platforms weren’t predicted, but the technologies that were are still (eerily) spot on.
- Digital twinning
- Building trust through digital interactions
- Immersive, responsive “phygital” spaces
- Smart buildings
- Data wallets
Dig into each of these data-based technologiesto understand who’s ready for them and how they are pushing the envelope of innovation.
Agility at Work: Adapt to Constant Change by Creating It
Change management is about minimizing disruption, however in today’s environment change is nearly constant so adapting to it – rather than trying to manage it – is a more forward-looking course of action. We’ve seen changes to our workplaces, workforces, workspaces, workflows, and workloads. Leaders can help employees own disruption with a change-leader culture that:
Involves, trusts, and empowers your people. Autonomy allows employees to suggest ideas and adjust to change locally.
Prioritizes manager development. Responsible for up to 70 percent of team engagement, managers who act as coaches – not bosses – inspire employees to try new mindsets and behaviors.
Uses analytics to get ahead of employees’ perceptions and emotions. Change can cause fear and excitement – to help frame it positively, leaders can use insights gleaned from talking with stakeholders and early users.
Create a culture of learning. Groups that continuously learn and experiment are primed for trying new ideas. They tend to thrive on being “in the know.”
On the Bookshelf
The Innovation Ultimatum: How six strategic technologies will reshape every business in the 2020s
By Steve Brown The first businesses to understand and embrace six key transformative technologies will be the ones to reap the greatest rewards in the marketplace. This book provides an approachable explanation of these technologies for business leaders, board members, C-suite executives, and senior managers, AND helps them prepare their organizations for technology-enabled change.
DTS News
DTS to Introduce CMMC Services
Where do you stand with your CMMC plans? Many DoD contractors haven’t taken the first step, or even know where to start. Let’s grab 10 minutes for us to connect about what you are doing to get ready for your CMMC assessment.
Strategic Planning in a Pandemic
If your spring plans flew out the window mid-March and haven’t been back on track since, it’s time to dust off your strategic plan and use it to adjust for current realities. Edward Tuorinsky authored a how-to guide for GovLoop. Continue reading the entire article.
DTS Launches Suicide Prevention Initiative
Out of a concern for the mental wellness of our community during the pandemic, veterans who are at risk, and the life-altering impact of suicide on so many, DTS has launched a Suicide Prevention initiative.
The firm observed Suicide Prevention Week from September 7-13th by sharing resources via our Twitter and LinkedIn accounts for those struggling, those who know someone at risk, and those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Additionally, Senior Consultant Derek Kernus was an invited speaker at William and Mary University during the week.
On October 24 DTS is sponsoring the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Washington D.C. Out of the Darkness Walk. We welcome others to join our team and support this important cause with us.
About DTS
DTS consultants go far beyond just “getting the job done.” We continually find better, more efficient and more effective ways to satisfy the needs of our public- and private- sector clients. DTS provides full lifecycle Management and IT consulting services, and can support your organization by researching and answering specific questions, solving critical issues or helping you plan for the future. Among a crowded field of contractors, DTS stands out for the quality of our people, the power of our approach, and the impact of our results. www.consultDTS.com
Continue the conversation:
Email sales@consultDTS.com or call 571.403.1841
