Feds Say Strategy and Talent Are Top Challenges for Data-Driven Government

A new poll says that data strategy and talent are two of the biggest obstacles to making government more data-driven. Twenty-three percent of federal leaders say that agencies lack a clear data strategy. Meanwhile, an additional 23 percent say that talent and training are needed to put big data into use.

The findings are from a flash poll conducted by HP and Government Business Council, and come at a time when government is producing more digital information than ever before.

“Each day, government is creating more and more data, and federal leaders often struggle to keep up with the size and scope of it,” says Diana Zavala, Director, Analytics and Data Management Practice for HP U.S. Public Sector. “Federal leaders are looking to find new ways to tap into and manage their data, so that it can lead to insights that support performance transformation, process improvements and a reduction in costs.”

Budget also is a major concern for building a data-centric government, with 21 percent of federal leaders saying that budget constraints are a top concern.

“Today, agencies are being asked to do more with less,” Zavala says. “But, by driving organizational insights from data, government can shift dollars away from ineffective programs and processes and toward those that can provide the biggest impact.”

While data has the potential to improve citizen services, policy and regulations are hindering data-centric efforts for more than a few federal managers: 16 percent of respondents cite policy and regulations as the top challenge to becoming data-driven. The ability to share information beyond point to point is a key topic of conversation that is being addressed by chief data officers and mission owners alike. Other federal leaders are faced with technology and security concerns. A percentage of the respondents — 10 percent — say that technology is the biggest issue facing their data efforts; 7 percent point to security and privacy.

“Federal leaders may feel like they’re at a crossroads. They need to manage their data as an asset, be more transparent with their data and keep in mind the interests of security and privacy all at the same time,” Zavala says. “In order to become a data-driven organization, agencies must first carefully consider their data strategy and invest in the right talent to guide that plan forward.”

Some government agencies have built out their own data management teams, such as the Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Federal Reserve and FEMA. These agencies have begun to implement data strategies to deliver on mission. But, for most, a data-centric government is still just a vision for the future.

“Most agencies still need to define and develop a comprehensive data strategy in order to move forward,” Zavala says. “By becoming a data-centric organization, agencies can be empowered to take a data-driven approach to serving the public.”

What is the greatest challenge to your department/agency becoming a data-driven organization?

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Methodology: This flash poll was conducted by HP and Government Business Council, the research division of Government Executive Media Group, and sent via email to a random sample of federal government employees on September 28-29, 2015. One hundred and fifty-eight respondents representing over two dozen civilian and defense agencies participated in the poll.

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