pg.5
AT A GLANCE:
SETTING THE CONDITIONS
FOR INNOVATION An interview with the GSA Administrator The more entrenched we become in a risk-averse environment, the more likely we are to embody mindsets that sabotage progress. But there are exceptions — even in government. GovLoop spoke with Administrator Robin Carnahan about an ongoing program within the General Services Administration that elevates innovation.
Evaluate Idea
Clarity Alignment Impact
Phase 1:
Investigate
Phase 2:
Discover
Phase 3:
Develop
Phase 4:
Scale
De-risk innovation
For Carnahan, taking smart bets means incremental, intentional steps toward change, which is foundational for the 10x program. De-risking in this sense isn’t about delaying progress but rather using defined timelines and small, initial funding to test ideas, prove impact and potentially scale.
Make it easy to share ideas and say yes to viable ones One of the hallmarks of GSA’s 10x program is how accessible it is for employees to share good ideas, understand the selection process and be included in decision-making. “We need to make it easy for people to give their new ideas, and innovative ideas, into a place where they can actually be tested and scaled if they’re appropriate,” Carnahan said. In fiscal 2021, the 10x team received 250 ideas from 89 unique agencies. After a year of targeted outreach, the team received 70% of their ideas outside of GSA.
Timeline Market Fit Regulatory Requirements Current State Funding Model
Called 10x, this investment program crowdsources, evaluates, develops and scales ideas from federal employees across agencies that improve how the government serves the public. Carnahan shared insights on how organizations can set conditions that cultivate innovation.
The riskiest thing the government can do is to stay the same, Carnahan said. Change includes a mindset shift around risk, what it means, how to reduce it and how to take smart risks or bets.
Demand Major Red Flags
MVP Recruit Agency Customer Product Roadmap Business Plan Additional Customers Largest Possible Audience
The 10x program’s four-phased approach for selecting, evaluating and scaling new ideas. Source: 10x.gsa.gov
Seek impactful projects The focus with any new idea or innovation is impact, Carnahan said. She pointed to the launch and expansion of 10x projects such as Login.gov, a single sign-on solution for government websites. This is a big deal because governments at all levels grapple with verifying that people are who they say they are to receive a government benefit. But not all projects have a clear trajectory. The U.S. web design standards is one example. It’s an online library of materials to help agencies provide easily accessible, mobile-friendly websites around standard design principles. It also started as a 10x project. “Five years later, there have been almost a billion, with a B, data use of things using U.S. website standards,” she said. “Cities and states use it … and other countries use them.” Have questions or are interested in exploring aspects of 10x that might work at your agency? Learn more here.
Innovations that Mattered in 2021
