Highlights from the latest federal digital modernization report
New research shows that government efforts to modernize technology saw substantial advancements in 2022: An overwhelming 91% of federal IT workers report their agencies gained ground on digital modernization efforts in the past year.
Inside our latest federal digital modernization report
New research shows the top trends shaping government modernization in 2023 including best practices for establishing the right strategy and infrastructure to maintain modernization momentum.
Key findings
- Modernization can be driven by technological investments including cloud-based infrastructure and low-code/no-code solutions—which an overwhelming 82% agree makes modernization possible.
- Technological and cost benefits to modernizing the federal IT environment include increased security (58%) and increased reliability (54%), as well as cultural achievements: creating a culture of innovation (49%), improved usability for employees (48%), and improved service delivery to the public (47%).
- Communication is a key cultural consideration, one that agency leaders need to make better use of in light of the alarming 60% who report their leadership does not consistently communicate about modernization efforts.
- Indeed, 45% of employees say consistent communication is the most powerful way to overcome resistance to change, the most popular solution for change management.
As 70% continue to advance their modernization goals, continuing to communicate and cultivate agency-wide unity behind modernization efforts is key.
About the research
The ICF Digital Modernization Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 500 federal employees, employed full-time, working in technology or IT-focused roles, between September 23rd and October 6th, 2022, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas were set for 250 GS 9 and 10 employees and 250 GS 11+ employees, and a minimum of 100 contract specialists and program managers.
Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
To see how this research compares to previous findings, explore our 2021 digital transformation report or review the 2021 survey highlights.