Mary Scott NabersAlthough I’ve been involved in government for most of my adult life, I’ve never experienced a more disruptive environment than the one we are dealing with now. America, as we know it, will eventually get back to some degree of normalcy, but until that happens, the government marketplace is a scary environment for business leaders. It is perhaps even more uncertain and stressful for elected officials and government employees.
It could be difficult for thought leaders, planning professionals and financial executives to function with confidence in either sector because of uncertainty. But that must not be the case. The focus should be on strategy — new strategies for the world’s largest marketplace — the U.S. government market. There is a clear path when it comes to strategy, and it is important for business leaders to see it and embrace new thinking.
Most importantly, private sector leaders cannot abandon their efforts in the government marketplace. Businesses that contract with the government should be aggressively responding and thinking strategically about how they can contribute. Companies that stay the course and continue to interact with and befriend public employees performing under difficult circumstances and turmoil will be positioned favorably when change slows down and the pace of business picks up again… as it obviously will.
These disruptive times can be made better if private sector innovation, expertise and resources are all available to public officials. Commitment to good government, partnerships and collaborative initiatives will be remembered long after the chaos ends. Company executives who want their firms recognized as “trusted advisors” should realize that government officials need them now.
Strategy development for businesses should begin with consideration of a company’s offerings. Can or should the services and offerings be tweaked to meet current needs? An analysis to determine how a company’s capabilities might be consolidated, re-engineered or reduced in cost, at least in the short term, is advised.
The following examples suggest interesting scenarios and questions to ponder… because a few of them are likely to become reality.
Federal agencies will likely be required to hand off numerous responsibilities to the states. The handling and oversight of certain regulatory matters may be among the first areas where some activities will be shifted from federal agencies. The question to ponder is what state or local authorities will need that private sector firms might offer. It depends, of course, on which regulatory activities are moved to the states. The ones currently under consideration include environmental reviews, disaster recovery and grant programs with regulatory compliance.
States that are emulating federal actions are already ordering employees back into their offices. While taxpayers may appreciate that move, not all state workers will accept the change. If too many reject the mandate, will outsourcing parts of program oversight to private sector firms be an option? Or is new technology available to cover at least some of the activities that were once handled by human resources?
When federal funding is reduced for critical infrastructure, affordable housing, disaster recovery and community development, will public-private partnerships that include private sector capital be the answer? If so, what can developers, contractors and investors do now to help government leaders become more comfortable managing these types of partnership engagements?
With economic development funding reductions, can private sector contractors lessen the strain by partnering with city and county leaders to launch initiatives that create jobs, attract tourists or generate revenue? Community development must continue, so there are many options for contractors and developers.
K-12 school officials, whether they represent public or private sector status, will require modern technology, classroom upgrades and teachers who are supported with pay increases or financial benefits of some sort. What offerings can businesses provide to support education excellence?
Institutions of higher education are already seeing revenue losses in the areas of research. Which private sector firms are visionary enough to fill that void with some win/win options?
Healthcare, one of the most critical components of citizen services that government provides, will benefit from visionary ideas and technology. What is needed to cut costs, improve efficiency and provide services to people in need? Do companies have offerings that can be tweaked or modified to deliver good outcomes?
I could list dozens of examples of changes that will open all kinds of new aspects for government contractors, but here’s the point: if ever there was a perfect time for collaborative initiatives, this is it!
The ever-moving pendulum swings… and success must be found wherever it lands. America’s future hangs in the balance. Innovation, commitment and action are what government leaders will appreciate most from private sector partners today. This is definitely NOT the time for business leaders to go underground.
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