Federal Technology Vision 2021: Full U.S. Federal Survey Findings | Accenture

Accenture Federal Technology Vision 2021
U.S. Federal Survey Findings
Five trends for
post-pandemic
leadership

2
Federal agencies demonstrated
unprecedented agility in responding to the
COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating technology
modernization efforts by years. In its wake, the
need to become a technology leader and build
technology wealth has never been clearer.
Federal agencies must now harness and
sustain this mindset shift to create a digital-
first approach for the future. Leaders will use
technology as not just an enabler, but to
reimagine and improve the mission itself.

Our five technology trends for 2021
Stack
Strategically
Rearchitecting
government for
what’s next
Mirrored
World
Digital twins
report for duty
I, Technologist
Empowering
innovators in
the workforce
Anywhere,
Everywhere
Integrating your
virtual workspace
From Me
to We
Take the mission
further with
multiparty systems
3
Since 2001, the Accenture Technology Vision has provided an annual glimpse into the most important
trends impacting business, government and society over the next three years. The Accenture Federal
Technology Vision 2021 discusses how this year’s global trends will impact the U.S. federal government
and specific agencies.
AccentureFederalTechnologyVision2021:

Technology Vision 2021 Executive Survey
4
Business survey
Accenture Research conducted a global survey
of 6,241 business and IT executives to capture
insights into the adoption and use of emerging
technologies. The survey, fielded from December
2020 through January 2021, helped identify the
key issues and priorities for technology adoption
and investment. Respondents were C-level
executives and directors at companies across
31 countries and 14 industries.
U.S. federal findings are a subset of responses
from 200 federal executives across the U.S.
federal government. Approximately half (48%)
identified as CIO, CISO, CTO or other technology
leadership roles with the balance in mission or
business leadership roles.
Displayed results may not equal 100% due
to rounding.

Five trends for post-pandemic leadership
5
01
Public and private sector leaders recognize that
every enterprise must be a technology leader,
and this has accelerated digital transformation
as technology reshapes society, the economy
and the human experience.
As we begin to emerge into this post-pandemic
reality, enterprises must master and embrace
an era of continuous change.
The world is hungry for new
leadership. Amid the challenges of
2020, two truths became evident.
02

Digital government transformation accelerates
6
57% of U.S. federal executives report the pace of their agency’s digital transformation is increasing.
22% 41% 27%
How is the pace of digital transformation for your organization changing?
Significantly accelerating
Accelerating
Remaining the same
Slowing
Significantly slowing
NA, our digital transformation is completed
NA, we’re not currently undergoing digital transformation
7%
2%
21% 37% 32% 8%
2%
1%
1%
Technology Vision 2021 Business and IT Executive Survey. Global N=6,241; AFS N=200
Global
U.S. Federal

1%
46%
47%
52%
54%
19%
24%
26%
30%
COVID-19 tested federal resilience
7
97% of U.S. federal executives report the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented stress test
for their agencies.
For many organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented stress test. What aspects of your organization
experienced the greatest stress test? Rank all, where 1 = the greatest stress test.
Greatest stress test
Within top two
Global
3%
46%
49%
48%
53%
22%
25%
24%
27%
Our technology architecture
Our strategy
Our workforce
Our processes
Our organization did not
experience a stress test
U.S. Federal
Our organization did not
experience a stress test
Our technology architecture
Our strategy
Our workforce
Our processes

The need to innovate is a top priority
8
38% 54%
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements.
My organization is innovating with an urgency and call to action this year.
Strongly agree
7%
1%
31% 60% 8%
Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable
91% of U.S. federal executives report that their organization is innovating with an urgency and call
to action this year.
1%
Global
U.S. Federal

Defining to capture tomorrow’s market
9
35% 56%
Capturing tomorrow’s market will require my organization to define it.
7%
1%
40% 52% 7%
92% of U.S. federal executives believe capturing tomorrow’s market will require their organization
to define it.
1%
Global
U.S. Federal
2%
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable

10
Stack
Strategically:
A new era of government is dawning—
one in which an agency’s technology
architecture will be a critical factor in
whether they succeed or fail in their
mission responsibilities. But building
and wielding the best technology stack
for mission success means thinking about
technology differently and making agency
and technology strategies indistinguishable.
Rearchitecting government for what’s next

Technology and strategy converge
11
35% 49%
My organization’s business and technology strategies are becoming inseparable—even indistinguishable.
12%
1%
38% 53% 10%
90% of U.S. federal executives agree that their organization’s business and technology strategies are
becoming inseparable—even indistinguishable.
1%
Global
U.S. Federal
4%

Technology architecture creating winners & losers
12
35%
49%
How critical is your technology architecture becoming to the overall success of your organization?
12%
53% 10%
74% of U.S. federal executives agree that their technology architecture is becoming critical to the
overall success of their agency (30% report it’s very critical).
4%
25%
52%
22%
1%
Global
30%
45%
25%
1%
U.S. Federal
Very critical
Critical
Somewhat critical
Not critical

Technology powers the mission more than ever
13
30% of U.S. federal executives report technology drives their organization’s overall strategy and goals;
17% say visionary technology goals are at the core of their organization’s overall strategy including
larger societal goals.
Please indicate the statement that best reflects the alignment of your organization’s technology and business strategy.
Global
U.S. Federal
2%
18%
35%
30%
17%
1%
17%
38%
30%
13%
Visionary technology goals are at the core of my organization’s overall strategy
including larger societal goals (sustainability, inclusion and diversity, etc.)
Technology drives my organization’s overall strategy and goals
Technology goals are aligned with my organization’s overall strategy
Technology goals are somewhat aligned with my organization’s overall strategy
Technology goals are not aligned with my organization’s overall strategy

Technology leadership creates real value
14
37% 53%
My organization’s ability to generate business value will increasingly be based on the limitations and opportunities of our
technology architecture.
9%
1%
37% 50% 14%
87% of U.S. federal executives agree that their organization’s ability to generate business value will
increasingly be based on the limitations and opportunities of their technology architecture.
Global
U.S. Federal

15
Mirrored World:
Leaders are building intelligent digital twins to
create living models of shipyards, jet fighters,
supply chains, product lifecycles, and more.
Bringing together data and intelligence to
represent the physical world in a digital space
will unlock new opportunities to operate,
collaborate, and innovate.
Digital twins report for duty

Integrating insight is mission-critical
16
40% 50%
My organization requires a mission control, or central intelligence hub, to gain insights into complexities and model our
organization’s processes, people and assets.
9%
1%
42% 47% 12%
89% of U.S. federal executives believe their organization requires a mission control, or central
intelligence hub, to gain insights into complexities and model their organization’s processes,
people and assets.
Global
U.S. Federal
1%

13%
18%
24%
24%
Digital twins emerging but not as fast as commercially
17
24% of U.S. federal executives report their organization is experimenting with and 13% are scaling up
digital twins this year.
What technology is your organization experimenting with or scaling up this year? Select all that apply.
Experimenting
Scaling
Global
U.S. Federal
Digital twins

18
11% 54%
Significantly increase
31%
3%
13% 50% 29%
Increase No change Decrease Significantly decrease Don’t know/Unsure
Global
U.S. Federal
1%
Investment in intelligent digital twins to grow
How do you expect your organization’s investment in intelligent digital twins to change over the next three years?
63% percent of U.S. federal executives expect their organization’s investment in intelligent digital
twins to increase over the next three years.
7%
1%
1%

19
Digital twins drive enterprise collaboration
Digital twins are becoming essential to my organization’s ability to collaborate in strategic ecosystem partnerships.
87% of U.S. federal executives agree digital twins are becoming essential to their organization’s
ability to collaborate in strategic ecosystem partnerships.
37% 50% 11%
1%
36% 51% 12%
Global
U.S. Federal
1%
1%
1%

20
I, Technologist:
Powerful capabilities are now available to
people across the agency enterprise, adding
a grassroots layer to enterprises’ innovation
strategies. Now every employee can be an
innovator, optimizing their work, fixing pain
points, and keeping the business in lockstep
with new and changing needs.
Empowering innovators in the workforce

21
Empowering users with technology drives innovation
Technology democratization is becoming critical in our ability to ignite innovation across our organization.
89% of U.S. federal executives believe technology democratization is becoming critical in their
ability to ignite innovation across their organization.
38% 49% 11%
33% 56% 10%
Global
U.S. Federal
1%
1%

22
Entire workforce must adopt technology skills
My organization must train our people to think like technologists—to use and customise technology solutions at the
individual level, but without highly technical skills.
81% of U.S. federal executives agree their organization must train their people to think like
technologists—to use and customize technology solutions at the individual level, but without
highly technical skills.
38% 48% 10%
39% 42% 12%
Global
U.S. Federal
1%
8%
3%

23
Innovate locally, govern centrally viewed as critical
to success
For tools of technology democratization, organizations need to ensure that training strategies include a focus on security
and data governance.
89% of U.S. federal executives agree that for tools of technology democratization, organizations
need to ensure that training strategies include a focus on security and data governance.
38% 52% 10%
38% 51%
Global
U.S. Federal
1%
12%

Technology democratization drives
widespread benefits
24
49% of U.S. federal executives report accelerating solution implementation and interconnectivity
as a benefit their organization derives from tools of technology democratization.
What benefits does your organization derive from tools of technology democratization? Select all that apply.
Global
U.S. Federal
38%
28%
34%
51%
46%
49%
33%
36%
42%
44%
50%
54%
Accelerating solution implementation and interconnectivity
Capitalizing on technology for any employee skill level
Creating scalability and resilience
Delivering more customized responses and offerings with greater agility than ever
Adding a grassroots layer previously missing from enterprise innovation,
extending to the edges of the organization
Lowering demands on IT and helping overcome the technology skills gap

25
Anywhere,
Everywhere:
It’s time to transform remote work from an
accommodation to an advantage by rethinking
what the agency looks like and what it can
achieve with a virtualized workforce model.
Leaders must develop “bring your own
environment” strategies, addressing the
security ramifications of remote work,
necessary cultural shifts, and the evolving
purpose of physical office space.
Integrating your virtual workplace

26
Federal workforce changed forever by COVID-19
My organization’s employees just faced the largest and fastest human behavioural change in history due to COVID-19.
79% of U.S. federal executives agree their organization’s employees just faced the largest and fastest
human behavioral change in history due to COVID-19.
36% 46% 15%
35% 44% 18%
Global
U.S. Federal
3%
3%

25%
30%
32%
38%
35%
44%
47%
41%
33%
35%
39%
39%
40%
41%
47%
48%
Agencies invested in enabling remote work
27
47% of U.S. federal executives report investing in digital collaboration tools and 41% in cloud-enabled
tools and technologies to support their remote workforce during COVID-19.
Which of the following has your organization invested in specifically to support your remote workforce during COVID-19?
Select all that apply.
Global
U.S. Federal
Cloud-enabled tools and technologies
Digital collaboration tools
Productivity management tools
Remote monitoring technologies
Learning or training tools
Automation tools (e.g., robotic process automation tools, software testing tools)
Home networking equipment (e.g., laptops, tablets, phones)
Well-being technologies (e.g., meditation or wellness apps)

Remote workers critical to closing federal talent gap
28
37% 51%
The remote workforce opens up the market for difficult to find talent and expands the competition for talent among organizations.
11%
1%
35% 52% 14%
87% of U.S. federal executives believe the remote workforce opens up the market for difficult to
find talent and expands the competition for talent among organizations.
Global
U.S. Federal

BYOD becomes bring your own environment
29
31% 50%
Leading organizations in my industry will start shifting from a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to Bring Your Own Environment
(BYOE) workforce approach.
17%
2%
37% 50% 12%
87% of U.S. federal executives agree that leading organizations in their industry will start shifting from
a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to Bring Your Own Environment (BYOE) workforce approach.
Global
U.S. Federal
1%
1%

30
From Me to We:
The demand for contact tracing, frictionless
payments, and new ways of building trust
brought into sharp focus what had been left
undone with enterprises’ existing ecosystems.
Multiparty systems enable agencies to employ
the power of partnerships and trusted data to
address increasingly complex challenges.
Take the mission further with
multiparty systems

18%
25%
15%
20%
Exploring multiparty systems but trailing commercial
31
15% of U.S. federal executives report their organization is experimenting with and 18% are scaling up
multiparty systems this year.
What technology is your organization experimenting with or scaling up this year? Select all that apply.
Experimenting
Scaling
Global
U.S. Federal
Blockchain/Distributed Ledgers (Multiparty Systems)

Agencies embrace the power of the cloud
32
37% 53%
To be agile and resilient, my organization needs to fast forward our digital transformation with cloud at its core.
9%
1%
37% 54% 9%
91% of U.S. federal executives agree that to be agile and resilient, their organizations need to fast
forward their digital transformation with cloud at its core.
Global
U.S. Federal

Multiparty systems power more resilient operations
33
Multiparty systems will enable our ecosystems to forge a more resilient and adaptable foundation to create new value
with my organization’s partners.
91% of U.S. federal executives state that multiparty systems will enable their ecosystems to forge
a more resilient and adaptable foundation to create new value with their organization’s partners.
37% 52% 10%
1%
40% 51% 9%
1%
Global
U.S. Federal

2%
18%
59%
20%
2%
Global
COVID-19 created significant supply chain disruption
34
49%
To what extent has your organization faced supply chain disruption as a result of COVID-19?
12%
53% 10%
75% of U.S. federal executives reported their organization faced a moderate to complete supply
chain disruption as a result of COVID-19.
4%
Complete disruption
Major disruption
Moderate disruption
Minor disruption
No disruption
3%
21%
51%
24%
2%
U.S. Federal

35
Accenture Research
Renee Byrnes
Research Lead
Haralds Robeznieks
Survey Insights
Michelle Ganchinho
Survey Insights
Radek Lasocha
Information Design Studio Lead
Denis Jose
Technology Research
Accenture Federal Services Marketing
John Conley
Riley Panko
Survey credits

36
About Accenture Federal Services
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subsidiary of Accenture LLP, is a U.S.
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Accenture’s federal business has served
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the largest federal organizations. Accenture
Federal Services transforms bold ideas into
breakthrough outcomes for clients at
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and military health organizations.
Learn more at www.accenturefederal.com
About Accenture Research
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creates data driven insights about the
most pressing issues global organizations
face. Combining the power of innovative
research techniques with a deep
understanding of our clients’ industries,
our team of 300 researchers and analysts
spans 20 countries and publishes hundreds
of reports, articles and points of view every
year. Our thought-provoking research—
supported by proprietary data and
partnerships with leading organizations,
such as MIT and Harvard—guides our
innovations and allows us to transform
theories and fresh ideas into real-world
solutions for our clients.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services
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experience and specialized skills across
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and Consulting, Interactive, Technology
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Visit us at www.accenture.com

37
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