A federal leader’s guide to reinvention: Delivering value faster for America

For leaders of US federal agencies, a pivotal moment has arrived. The availability of new technologies, heightened demands for performance, and the need to achieve results with speed and certainty is accelerating at a breathtaking pace. 

In short, federal leaders must pursue agility, efficiency, and effectiveness to unprecedented levels in all they do. 

Doing so requires embracing a strategy of continuous reinvention. Like their commercial counterparts, federal leaders recognize that reinvention is not a destination but is, instead, a dynamic process that prompts regular reexamination of what is working and why, and quick pivots to achieve success. 

The urgency to act 

While federal agencies have made strides to modernize, this moment is different. The stakes are higher. And the American public wants to see the impact of change faster and more efficiently. 

Federal leaders know that investing in technology, and in particular data, AI, and automation are the key to doing this. But many lack the resources to do it, the comfort with taking necessary risks, the cultural momentum to embrace change, or the velocity to achieve it. 

Recent research by Accenture Federal Services demonstrates that adopting proven commercial practices for federal organizations delivers results.  

Case in point: Recent AI-based simulations incorporating economic modeling and statistical analysis of federal budgets found that agencies can save as much as 30% in cost savings for procurements valued at $20 million to $100 million or more by prioritizing performance-based contracts, enhancing cost controls, and streamlining procurement processes.     

And with the federal government spending $750 billion annually on procurement, a more effective approach would directly improve the services that the American public relies on.  

Look to AI and automation to further accelerate cost efficiencies, innovation and productivity in government. Our research found that 42% of public service working hours will be automated or augmented by generative AI. Additionally, 72% of workers’ tasks could be reinvented by technology, augmentation or automation.

Federal reinvention imperatives 

By mobilizing around five imperatives, federal leaders can deliver a transformational return on their investment and deliver greater efficiencies and mission success.  

• Lead with value and outcomes: Define measurable outcomes, embed reinvention imperatives, trace productivity gains, and incentivize technology investments to drive efficiencies and cost-savings. 

• Innovate faster with data, AI and automation: Invest in robust data infrastructure, experiment with AI across the enterprise, become an early adopter of agentic AI, and increase the speed of digitizing processes. 

• Empower talent with new ways of working: Communicate a clear vision for change, engage employees, baseline skills ready for reskilling to embrace AI, prioritize critical roles, incentivize continuous learning, and take advantage of personalized AI-driven learning tools. 

• Simplify and streamline operations: Increase automation capabilities, unlock process efficiencies, reduce IT sprawl and inefficiencies, seize the opportunity to evolve (or delete) dated policies and processes, and accelerate migration from mainframe to modern technology stacks. 

• Drive continuous reinvention: Make space for piloting and experimentation, track and measure value and speed the process with Gen AI, increase risk tolerance, and cultivate an innovative culture. 

Accelerating action 

By adopting the reinvention imperatives of leading commercial organizations and empowering the workforce around it, federal agencies will more readily adapt to change, deliver results faster, and fundamentally reinvent how government serves America.

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