As someone fortunate enough to receive a mentor from day one at Arc Aspicio, I can attest to the immense value and impact that mentoring can have on one's career.
As the United States bounces back from a global pandemic and tackles the climate crisis, citizens' expectations of the Federal Government are higher than ever.
Most Americans have heard of human trafficking, but few know how prevalent it is within the United States.
At any given time, there are 27.6 million victims of human trafficking across the globe. Multiple Federal agencies have missions and responsibilities related to combating this horrendous crime and often need to work together to make an impact.
Citizen expectations, digital transformation, new missions and mandates, and budget constraints are just a few of the challenges that Government agencies face so, the need to strategically problem solve happens frequently. Developing effective solutions for the challenges agencies – from tax administration to transportation security to law enforcement – requires a thoughtful and structured approach. These challenges contain myriad independent issues, multiple stakeholders with unique needs and points of view, and (commonly) pre-conceived notions regarding solutions not grounded in fact.
Whether it is responding to a global crisis or packing a moving truck, we all participate in problem-solving in some form each day. Still, too often when we face complex problems at the organizational level, we jump directly into the problem rather than following a fact-based process to address it.
Problem-solving is a fundamental skill in any work environment but following a structured and repeatable approach to problem-solving greatly enhances outcomes.
Government leaders are constantly on the lookout for innovations that could be brought to bear on their most difficult challenges. Separating the truly useful new approaches from the mere buzzwords can be hard to navigate.
When evaluating what the market has to offer, leaders should focus on one question above all else: how does this help me solve the problems confronting my organization?
Knowledge workers recognize that the key to success is sharing what they know and asking questions when they don’t. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld knew as much when he famously said there are “known knowns” and “unknown unknowns.”
As a Consulting Associate at Arc Aspicio, I provide expertise and insight to help clients solve difficult problems. To be successful, a consultant does not need only to be a subject matter expert on their client’s industry and needs - though this often ends up happening over time.
Cybersecurity, managing and protecting computer systems from attacks, is evolving just as quickly as the techniques hackers use to cause damage. Historically, the public and private sectors believed that stronger technology and more advanced computer systems alone were enough to prevent attacks. As new trends emerge and the technologies used to both conduct and prevent hackings improve, cybersecurity strategies must remain agile, trying new tactics to counter changing threats.
Doing work for the Federal government is like steering a large ship through the waters—a ship sailed by multiple teams made up of a diverse set of individuals. The ability of these individuals to work together determines whether or not the ship makes it to its destination.
A senior Government leader once said, “Doing it differently and thinking from a different perspective is the only way we’re going to make progress.” I couldn’t agree more with this individual, who has a ton of experience in acquisition and problem solving—and that is why we are learning by doing in Peer Groups at Arc Aspicio.
Legendary actor and director Robert Redford often calls for fellow actors to “learn their craft”—to be so great at the fundamentals that you have the confidence, security, and flexibility to pursue your passion.
